VITAL cash to help lifeboat crews save lives at sea has been raised at a string of fundraising events in York.

Businesses, pubs and clubs in the city yesterday threw their weight behind the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's national SOS Day, which hopes to collect about £500,000 for the charity.

Its voluntary work at 230 lifeboat stations across the UK costs £122 million a year - or about £335,000 every day - which must all be met through contributions, donations and legacies as the RNLI receives no Government funding.

And York supermarkets and gyms were among those backing that work yesterday by taking part in SOS Day activities.

One event was held at the Fitness First health club at Clifton Moor, where members were urged to support raffles, sales and sponsored fun.

"The RNLI is such a wonderful charity that we really wanted to support SOS Day," said trainer Helen Collins, who helped organise the event.

"Staff and members of the club have all been doing their bit and, hopefully, we'll raise lots of money for the RNLI's crews."

Meanwhile, collection tins were rattling at the Sainsbury's store at Foss Bank and shoppers at the Monks Cross branch of Asda dug deep to take part in a tombola.

Earlier this week, The Press revealed how RNLI crews in Scarborough, Filey, Flamborough, Bridlington, Whitby, Staithes and Withernsea were called out to 199 incidents last year and 204 the year before that. The incidents ranged from boats stranded at sea to people cut off by rising tides, as well as helping to rescue residents trapped in their homes by floods.

"We are thrilled that the people of York have got behind SOS Day," said Val Nixon, the RNLI's senior fundraising manager in the north of England.

"Despite being some distance from the sea, the city has a long history of supporting the RNLI and we knew it would do us proud.

"The RNLI relies on the generosity of the public for the money we need to continue saving lives and SOS Day is an important source of funds for us. It also gives people the chance to show their support for the commitment and bravery of our volunteer crews."