The annual Lifeboat Weekend was deemed another huge success by organisers after thousands of pounds were raised for the RNLI.

Huge crowds formed at the South Bay yesterday to see the popular pier jump, where groups of people dress up and jump into the sea to raise money.

Leader of Scarborough Council, Tom Fox, took the plunge first.

Carol Crossley, from the Ship Inn, Falsgrave, and Carol Gallagher from The Commercial, Falsgrave, raised £400 by taking part in the jump.

They said: "We have never done this before so we have been nervous but we are so pleased to raise money for charity. It is all for a good cause."

Friends, Lana Hey, Rachel Bamford, Ian Temple and Natasha Hey, dressed up as tarts and vicars for the jump.

Lana said: "We all just thought we would take part and I am so glad we did. It is great fun, everyone is in good spirits. We have raised about £600 which we are really pleased about."

Stuart Harding, 25, and Toyah Robertson, 23, from the Lancaster Inn, Sandside, also took part.

Mr Harding said: "We have been really looking forward to this. It has been a great year for the Lancaster Inn so we really wanted to give something back."

Scarborough entertainer, Tony Peers, compered the jumping event and entertained the crowds.

He said: "This was once again a fabulous event. It is a unique event and this year the jumpers have raised £3,850 for the RNLI which I think is fantastic.

"I am proud to be a part of it and I want to say well done to all the jumpers."

Throughout the weekend there were performances from local bands, singers and dance groups including the Kevin O'Connor Irish dancers, Rowlies Dance Academy, the Rock 'n' Rollers and Kenny Allen.

The Scarborough Evening News RNLI maids of honours, Kirsty Garwood and Sian Ackroyd were on hand all weekend, talking to visitors and collecting funds.

Northstead School pupil,Kirsty, nine, said: "I have really enjoyed the weekend. It has been great fun. I have been collecting money and people have been very generous. I hope they have raised a lot of money for the lifeboat station."

There was also a treasure hunt on Saturday which 30 people took part in. This event alone raised more than £1,000 last year and organisers were hoping to beat that amount.

One of the organisers of the weekend, Jilly Swales, who is the chairman of the RNLI Scarborough support group, said: "The weather was not brilliant on Saturday but we have still had a very successful weekend. We hope to have raised more than £5,000 which will be fantastic for the lifeboat station. It was great to see so many people watching the pier jump, this is always the most popular part of the weekend."