Three 'unsung heroes' of the RNLI, Angle volunteer fundraisers Rosie O'Callaghan, Elvina Lawrence and Ann Watkins, have been honoured on their retirement by the charity that saves lives at sea.

At a special presentation at Angle Lifeboat Station, each received a framed RNLI certificate of thanks from Dave Nicoll, area manager, community fundraising, for their many years of tireless and dedicated work for the charity.

Mr. Nicoll described the fundraisers as the 'unsung heroes'.

"Our volunteers are the lifeblood of the RNLI. We simply couldn't do without them," he said.

Tributes to Rosie, Elvina and Ann were also paid by Angle lifeboat operations manager John Allen-Mirehouse, who presented them each with a bouquet of flowers. He thanked them for their outstanding commitment to the RNLI, on behalf of Angle Lifeboat Station and the local community.

Rosie, Elvina and Ann have been involved in all aspects of RNLI fundraising at Angle, from teas to the souvenir stall.

Elvina (minute secretary) and Rosie have also served as members of the lifeboat station committee and were born into the RNLI, with their fathers being members of Angle lifeboat's crew.

Elvina's father, Jim Watkins, was coxswain from 1957 to 1966, and her husband, Dai Lawrence, served with the lifeboat for 34 years. Her four brothers, Roy, Ronald, Kevin and Raymond Watkins, were all also members of the crew, as were her uncles, Joe and Willie Watkins, and nephews, Brian and Alun Watkins.

Rosie's father, Benny Rees (second coxswain), grandfathers Edgar Rees (mechanic), and Harry Thomas (head houseman) served with the lifeboat crew for many years, as did her husband, Roger, who retired after 34 years service to the RNLI. Her brother, Jerry Rees, was coxswain of the station's all-weather lifeboats, the Tyne class The Lady Rank, and the Tamar class, Mark Mason, before retiring in 2010, and her son-in-law, Derek Richards, is a former member of the crew.

Ann's fundraising work for the RNLI began in 1964, when she moved to Angle after her marriage to Roy Watkins, Elvina's brother and a lifeboat crew member. Their son Alun is the present deputy second coxswain of the Mark Mason, and son Brian is a former member of the crew.