A lifeboat station has welcomed a pub landlady as its first female coxswain in its 55-year history.

Rachel Collier, who runs the Admiral’s Arm in Queenborough on Sheppey, has become a commander of one of the all-weather lifeboats based at RNLI Sheerness.

The mum-of-two has been training twice a week and has made two visits to Dorset for courses over the last year to get the qualification.

She was assessed by Lyle Stantiford from the South West region.

The exam involved a full written and verbal exam as well as a search scenario where she was tested on boat handling, anchoring, crew management and how to deal with an engine room fire drill.

Last week (October 14), the 49-year-old found out she had passed and had become the first woman coxswain at the station since it opened in 1970.

Rachel is just one of two women who volunteer there, but she says she does not know why there are so few among the ranks.

She said: “Traditionally, women have had other commitments, like having to look after children, or they just think it's not something they can do and is just for me.

“But that’s not the case.

“I do feel proud as it’s a milestone for the station and I believe I am only the fourth woman in the south east region’s RNLI units to have become a coxswain.”