Two lifeboatmen from Clacton are ready to answer an emergency call in Africa.

Pete Richards and Robert Bradbrook have been selected for the RNLI's rapid response unit, which is on standby round the clock to help with flood relief work.

Mr Richards, 34, is in the first wave of 15 volunteers to be prepared to leave home at a moment's notice.

The floods forecast in Mozambique are expected to be worse than those which happened earlier this year.

The Government's department for international development has requested help from the RNLI and will pay for the equipment and deployment of teams.

Mr Richards, a fireman who lives in Suffolk Close, Holland-on-Sea, said he was waiting for the call.

"We have been on 24-hour standby and it all depends on the weather," he said.

Mr Bradbrook, senior helmsman with the Clacton lifeboat crew, is in the second wave of volunteers.

The response unit was established following involvement in the flooding in Mozambique in March.

The expedition highlighted the need to have specially-equipped and trained teams ready to respond to emergencies at home and abroad at short notice.

The RNLI has also been involved in flood relief work throughout Britain during the past few months, using teams from local lifeboat stations and inflatable craft.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.