Nick Clegg visits BARB

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 1st Oct 2008

Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg and Burnham & Highbridge Parliamentary Candidate Tessa Munt joined crewmembers from Burnham's rescue hovercrafts for a training session this Autumn.

Local charity BARB - the Burnham Area Rescue Boats - operate two hovercraft - the 'Spirit of Lelaina' and 'Light of Elizabeth' with the help of volunteer crewmembers.

Nick and Tessa toured the charity's Burnham seafront station and met all the crew. They then boarded the Spirit of Lelaina for a training flight along the beach to the Burnham lighthouse.

Speaking after his flight, Nick said it was "bumpy, noisy, and exhilarating". He was full of admiration for the volunteers and their work with BARB, saying "The crew provides an emergency service over 36 square miles of deceptively dangerous mud flats in Burnham. It's fascinating to see how a community-run charity can provide an essential lifeline service here."

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Follow link to youtube to hear about Nick and Tessa's hovercraft flight.