SUPPORTERS of the RNLI can now receive text message alerts to tell them when the local lifeboat is being launched.

Signal maroons stopped being fired some months ago.

The move left some people, who put money in the RNLI charity boxes when they heard the maroons go, wondering when their local lifeboat had been launched.

Now, every time one of the texts is sent to a mobile phone, people will be informed the lifeboat has set off on a rescue, and a donation will be made to the RNLI at the same time.

Harwich RNLI spokesman, Keith Churchman, said: “With it looking like the maroons are never going to be back, this service will let townspeople know when their lifeboat is being launched.”

The SMS alerts are triggered by the same pager system that notifies the lifeboat’s volunteer crew members.

Unlike the crew members, who can be summoned day or night, subscribers to the service can decide when they’d like to receive alerts and set a limit on how many messages they receive. Participants can pick specific stations they want to follow and can keep in touch with more than one.

It is also possible to pause the service for a while, for example while going abroad on holiday.

Subscribers can set a maximum amount they would like to spend on the messages each week.

The amount donated to the RNLI depends on your mobile operator, but everyone who signs up to the scheme will be helping to raise funds for charity.

In order to sign up for the alerts, go to www.rnli.org.uk/sms-launch-alerts