LIFEBOAT volunteers had to put lunch on hold when their pagers went off on Christmas Day.

Rhyl RNLI have not received a callout on December 25 for more than 30 years. 

Crews were tasked to investigate a possible kayak in difficulty off Pensarn beach, Abergele.

The call came at 1.43pm; The Coastguard co-ordinating centre in Holyhead had taken a 999 call from a member of the public. The inshore lifeboat was launched within seven minutes of the call, with the crew of the all-weather lifeboat standing by in case a search was involved.

Volunteer coastguards from Llandudno were also on scene and directed the lifeboat to the position, about one mile north of Pensarn beach.

At the location, the lifeboat crew reported the object to be a large part of a tree with a branch sticking out of the water, looking like a hand.

The tree trunk was safely towed back to the beach and handed over to the coastguards to prevent further calls.

Coxswain Martin Jones, of Rhyl Lifeboat, said: "We are happy to answer our pagers at any time of year, even though some are false alarms. We would rather launch and find things such as this tree, rather than not be called to a genuine incident. If you see anything or anyone you think may be in trouble at sea, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."

Deputy Coxswain Andy Wilde said: "I hope this is not the only yuletide log I will see."

The lifeboat crew were back on station at 2.25pm, and after preparing the lifeboat ready for it's next tasking, were able to return to their Christmas celebrations.