Rare pictures show why Fleetwood RNLI and HM Coastguard were at Irish Sea windfarm off Walney Island

Fleetwood Lifeboat took part in a large scale casualty care and evacuation exercise at the offshore windfarm of the Fylde Coast - we can only see from the shoreline.

These amazing pictures, snapped by a member of Fleetwood Coastguard who took part in the exercise, give a rare close-up glimpse of the windfarm and the platforms used by those who work there.

A spokesperson for the Coastguard said: “One of our team oversaw a large exercise as part of his day job, on the offshore Windfarm just off Walney Island.

“RNLI Fleetwood and Barrow Lifeboat were also involved in the casualty care and evacuation exercise and showed outstanding skill and teamwork.

“Our Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at Holyhead was also involved in the co-ordination of the exercise.

“Although not a Coastguard Rescue Team exercise in this case, it does showcase the incredible diversity of skills and experience our team members bring from their day jobs to our own rescues.

The Walney Offshore Windfarm uses sea winds to generate renewable electricity. It has offshore platforms which are substations gathering power from turbines, increase its voltage and send it ashore through undersea cables. The turbines are 22 miles from Fleetwood’s coast.

Although the turbines and platforms are largely operated automatically, specialist teams work there to inspect and maintain equipment as well as carrying out safety checks.

Teams travel out on specialists boats and sometimes helicopters to carry out their duties.