The RNLI helped more than 15,000 people at sea and on land around the South West coast last year, in what was the second busiest year on record for the charity nationally.

Statistics released today show that RNLI lifeboat crews in the region launched 1,586 times and rescued 1,571 people.

And the charity's lifeguards came to the aid of 13,638 people on 94 beaches around the region's coastline. The crew at Weymouth lifeboat station in Dorset brought 176 people safely to shore, the highest figure in the UK.

It is thought the record-breaking hot weather in April contributed in part to the exceptionally busy year for the charity.

According to Met Office figures, 2011 was the warmest April in 100 years. It was also the busiest in RNLI history.

However, the indifferent weather in the summer did not keep holidaymakers away from the region's coast, and August remained the RNLI's busiest month of the year.

The beaches with the highest number of incidents were all in Cornwall, including Perranporth, where RNLI lifeguards helped 827 people in difficulty.

In North Devon, 463 people were assisted by the lifeguard teams at Woolacombe.

Adrian Carey, RNLI divisional inspector, said the figures illustrated the commitment of the charity's teams across the South West.

He added: "The statistics show just how dedicated our lifeboat crew volunteers and our lifeguards are in the region, providing cover in foul weather and fair.

"For instance, in 2011, the lifeboat crews spent 37,380 hours at sea on rescues and training exercises, that's a substantial gift of time to the RNLI and that's as well as wearing their pagers 24/7 in winter and summer."

The RNLI also had its busiest November in 20 years, with 77 lifeboat call outs around the South West.

Mr Carey said: "The lifeguard figures prove their value, but on top of this were the many volunteer lifeguards who provided cover throughout the year, more especially in 2011 on Fistral in Newquay for the whole of March and November and at Gwithian and Sennen over the double bank holiday period of the Royal Wedding."

Mr Carey also paid tribute to families of lifeboat and lifeguard teams for their "unwavering support" and thanked the public for continuing to donate to the charity despite current economic pressures.

A recent fundraising campaign has helped raise money for new, state-of-the-art lifejackets that will arrive at stations through summer and early autumn, he said.

Mr Carey said that the RNLI continued to put a lot of effort into preventing accidents through education programmes and campaigns.

He added: "The message is clear: plan your trip to the coast and make sure you are aware of the local conditions, and importantly, local tide times – it could save your life."