To mark Mother's Day yesterday (Sunday, 15 March), Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat stations, including Teddington's, celebrated the dedicated mums who volunteer their time to help save lives at sea and on rivers.

The RNLI relies on thousands of volunteers and many of them are mothers balancing family life with being ready to respond when the pager sounds. At Teddington RNLI, they play a vital role, serving in a variety of roles including lifeboat crew, shore crew, fundraisers, and water safety volunteers.

This Mother's Day, volunteer mums could have been called away at any time to answer the call for help.

Matt Allchurch, Lifeboat Operations Manager said: "All of our volunteers are incredible. Whether they are answering the pager to launch the lifeboat, supporting operations on shore, part of the crew onboard or helping raise vital funds, they are a huge part of our lifesaving team.

"This Mother's Day we want to recognise and thank them for everything they do."

For many RNLI volunteers, being 'a mum on call' means juggling family life with the commitment to be ready to help others in danger in the water at any hour of the day or night.

Claire Price joined as a lifeboat crew member four years ago.

One of her sons said: "I am so proud of my mum giving up her time to help someone in trouble on the River Thames, it is also great to see her and the other crew on the lifeboat."

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Claire is one of the 97% of the RNLI's 8,000 frontline plus crew who are volunteers. Selflessly giving up their time, they respond to thousands of calls annually around the coast and inland waters of the UK and Ireland.