A government minister is visiting a lifeboat station this morning to view the innovative ways it is bringing down its carbon footprint.

Shoreham RNLI lifeboat station has a heating system that uses warmth naturally present in the earth to keep the station at 15C. its carbon footprint.

Greg Barker, minister for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, will meet the volunteer crew and see how the system reduces costs for the charity.

Jo Jones, RNLI environment manager, said: "The RNLI recognises that our day to day activities can impact on the environment so we’re doing our best to minimise them, but in a cost-effective manner that doesn’t conflict with our lifesaving operations. its carbon footprint.

"We’ve undertaken research and are developing a strategy to reduce the RNLI’s carbon footprint – but in a manner that is appropriate and offers best value to the charity.”