RESCUE service chief John Cresswell has been deluged by vouchers supporting his coast patrol group.

RESCUE service chief John Cresswell has been deluged by vouchers supporting his coast patrol group.

So far more than 30,000 have been collected to help the service - and the message today is keep them coming!

Tonight Evening Star readers have a chance to show their support for the Felixstowe Coast Patrol and Rescue Service by cutting out the voucher printed here and sending it to Mr Cresswell or dropping it off at the East of England Co-operative Society's Home Store or our office in Hamilton Road, Felixstowe.

The Co-op started issuing the vouchers before Christmas to help raise funds for the volunteer-run rescue service.

The more vouchers handed in, the more money the company will give to keep the rescue team afloat.

It hopes the scheme will give the service enough funding to ensure it can keep going for the foreseeable future.

Mr Cresswell said: “The support has been amazing - absolutely tremendous.

“I have had tens of thousands of vouchers arrive at my house and some super letters of support, too, which have been very encouraging.

“It is an amazing gesture by the Co-op and I would like to thank them and everyone so much who has helped so far.

“The vouchers are still being issued so we would urge people to keep on collecting.”

Mr Cresswell said the rescue boat would need new engines next summer and it was hoped the fundraising would pay for this plus provide some spare cash to keep the service going for the next two or three summers.

The service has dealt with more than 800 incidents over the years, rescuing sailors, swimmers, windsurfers, youngsters on inflatables, as well as helping with many onshore incidents, giving advice and help to people.

It costs �15,000 to �20,000 a year to run, including fuel, training and boat maintenance.

As well as the collecting points at the Evening Star and Home Store, vouchers can also be dropped off at Orwell High School. Any other schools which would like to have a collecting box should call Miriam Harrup on 01473 638304.

What do you think of the work of the rescue service? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk