HISTORY has been made at Minehead RNLI lifeboat station where a boat has been launched crewed wholly by women volunteers.

It happened during a routine Sunday morning training exercise but, in theory, an all-female crew could now put to sea on any rescue mission.

Following two recruitment drives in recent years, women now account for a quarter of the station’s seagoing crew with one of them, Karla Thresher, 28, having recently qualified to take command of the station’s D class boat.

Minehead RNLI chairman Bryan Stoner said he was delighted that years of prejudice against women joining lifeboat crews were now at an end.

“Our experience here mirrors that at stations all over the country – that women can do the job just as well as men,” he said.

“Our five women make a huge contribution to the life of the station and have earned everyone’s respect in taking on the challenge of what – despite all the advances made in boat design, equipment and kit – remains a very, very demanding job.”