The Needles and Bembridge National Coastwatch Institutions’ (NCI) flew the flag for coastal safety this week.

They took part in a 2,000-plus mile station-to-station relay, as part of the charity’s 30th anniversary celebrations with all 60 of the country’s NCIs taking part to fly the specially-commissioned flag.

Needles NCI station manager, Charlotte Rayner, and secretary, Michael Bullock, picked up the flag, with Charlotte explaining: “We were asked to choose innovative methods to transport the flag. So we picked it up from Ryde on Tuesday after Gosport NCI brought it over on the Hovercraft. We took the Island Line to Shanklin and then the Coaster Breezer to Freshwater Bay. We were met there by members of Freshwater Independent Lifeboat who were there to greet us in their yellow wellies.

“Afterwards, we took the Needles Breezer to our Coastwatch Lookout Station, where it was hoisted up the flagpole. But its travelling didn’t end there. We then took the Breezer down to Alum Bay, where it was given a spin on one of the fairground’s ‘teacup’ rides before taking the chairlift down to the beach.

“Then, Pete Lemonius and the Yarmouth Rose dropped us over to Yarmouth where we had tea and cake at the community hall.

“Along the way, we were joined by Lord-Lieutenant, Susie Sheldon, who had her photo taken with member of the area’s various life-saving charities including Freshwater Independent Lifeboat and the Needles Coastguard Rescue team.”

On Wednesday the flag was transferred to Bembridge NCI to continue its tour of the Island before heading to complete it’s journey on the mainland.