TWO RNLI volunteers are celebrating more than 20 years of service.

Littlehampton RNLI lifeboat station crew Ritchie Southerton and Ross Bowman were each awarded the Long Service Award in recognition of their 20-plus years service to the charity that saves lives at sea.

Mr Southerton and Mr Bowman, who first joined the volunteer crew in 1996, received their award at the Guildhall London.

The award comes just weeks before former police officer and Rolls-Royce test driver Ritchie takes his boating skills and knowledge to Antarctica to work for the British Antarctic Survey for six months as a boating officer. When he is not responding to his pager, Ross can be found working in the construction industry as a crane operator. They join a small group of lifeboat crew from Littlehampton who served more than 20 years.