A REGISTRAR, kennel owner and doctor will lace up their dancing shoes in a bid to be crowned Strictly for the Lifeboats champions.

Seven couples will aim to impress a judging panel to take the prestigious title while also attempting to raise thousands of pounds for Dunbar’s RNLI crew.

The event, which takes place at the Strawberry Barn at Belhaven Fruit Farm on March 30 and 31, has proven a real success in recent years.

In total, the 2016 and 2017 events raised in the region of £15,000.

Veronica Davies, chairwoman of the Dunbar RNLI fundraising committee, was hoping for another bumper turnout.

She told the Courier: “Everybody seems to thoroughly enjoy it. All the people that take part enjoy it but the people that attend have a fantastic time as well.

“The dancers put in 100 per cent, every single one of them; it is the time and effort and commitment that they give to it.”

This year’s competitors are: Lyndsey Sproule (office manager) and Kenny Williams (lorry driver); Pat O’Donnell (nursing assistant) and Paul Easingwood (electrical engineer); Shona Urquhart (civil servant) and Mark Brougham (doctor); Annette Newall (foster carer) and Ian Allison (roofer and ex-lifeboat crew member); Fiona White (registrar) and Murray Mackay (checkout operator); Susan Somerville (kennel owner) and Wesley Bradd (music tutor and youth worker); and Rogan Jeffrey (social worker) and Brian Robertson (production co-ordinator).

Last year, the jiving skills of Ross McMullen and Hannah Clark won over the judges to see them crowned champions. Kenny Williams is aiming to follow in the footsteps of his nephew Ross, as well as niece Lynsey Courtney, who won in 2016, by taking the crown this time around.

He said: “I hope I can do as well as they did.

“I have a lot to live up to.”

Meanwhile, Shona Urquhart is hoping to go one better than the runner-up place she achieved in last year’s Syncing for the Lifeboats, when contestants lip-synced to hit songs; she performed as Bruno Mars.

Shona added: “It was such fun I thought I’d love another chance to get up there.”

Tickets (£15) go on sale on Saturday at Dunbar Lifeboat Station.

Veronica, who has been involved with the RNLI for 20 years, encouraged people to get them fast.

She added: “To kit somebody out with the RNLI costs in the region of £1,200.

“To train them is about the amount again.”

Already the 14 dancers have been honing their craft and putting in the hours of progress they hope will lead to triumph.