Worshippers at a service of thanksgiving for the emergency services got a first-hand look at who they were celebrating.

The service took place at St Bees Church with a congregation that included police, the RNLI, St John Ambulance and Wasdale Search and

Rescue, Blood Bikes Cumbria ad the North West Ambulance Service.

There were also other guests including the High Sheriff of Cumbria, David

brrbyand Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Debbie Keighley Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall.

The choir was ready to process into the church, organist Frank Bowler began the entrance and then the RNLI members received a call out.

As they all left the church, the service continued although the Rev Richard Lee, Rural Dean of Calder, while praising the devotion of all the services, said he would be pausing for thought if any other group suddenly left the building during his sermon.

The service was led by the Vicar of St Bees, the Rev Becky Gibb and a talk about the services was given by Richard Warren from search and rescue.

Mr Creasy said it had been 'a privilege and pleasure to attend the lovely choral evensong and thanksgiving service for the Emergency Services in Copeland'.

He said: “They are all so important to protecting our communities and our visitors. Thank you for being there for us. Thank you also to the many volunteers and the support all our emergency services receive from their families.”