An early bath for emergency crews in port!

A new event for Fleetwood is set to cause a splash for visitors and residents alike - and will raise money for various charities which are supported by the emergency services.

The 999 Bathtub Challenge will see members of the town’s emergency services racing each other in bathtubs on the boating lake on Laidleys Walk and competing for a variety of prizes.

The wacky races and a number of other activities will take place on Saturday August 13.

It will be a free event but Fleetwood Rotary Club, the organisers the spectacle, hope that spectators will make donations to boost the chosen good causes on the day.

The event will start at around noon with the first race and bathtub judging taking place at 12.45pm.

Members of Fleetwood Lifeboat, Fleetwood Police, the Fire and Rescue services, Wyre Council, the Coastguard service and the Ambulance Service will all be competing.

Daniel Whitaker, from Fleetwood police, said: “We are pleased to take part in this community event alongside other emergency services colleagues. The event has been organised with great enthusiasm and we’ve supporting so many events throughout the year so it is quite refreshing to actually be involved in one. As an ex­-Lifeboat crew member for Fleetwood it will be great to be pitched against them in a bathtub in a lake.”

And Paul Ashworth for the Lifeboat Team said: “The challenge is based on the water and there is only one emergency service at home on the water - so we’re quite confident!”

The idea for the event came from Rotarian Mick Grey, whose former police colleagues used to stage a similar spectacle when he worked down in Kent.