TWO dedicated lifeboat volunteers tied the knot in front of friends and family - with the groom carrying the on-call pager ‘just in case’.

Andy Scott, 33, is one of Silloth RNLI’s Inshore Lifeboat crew members and earlier this month he married partner Sarah, 32, in front of family and crew members.

And, as dedicated as the newly weds are to each other, they admit the ceremony would have taken a back seat had an emergency come in.

Andy explained: “It’s habit to take my pager with me wherever I go. If someone’s life is at risk I would put that over anything.

“We can get married any day, but someone can’t wait to be rescued another day.”

Sarah admitted: “I didn’t know he was taking his pager - but I would have let him go if he’d been paged.”

The couple moved to Silloth four years ago from Carlisle, with their two sons Connor and Harry.

It was Andy’s dad who joined Silloth lifeboat first, followed by Andy, then Sarah.

Sarah said: “Working for the lifeboat is like a ripple effect. You’re part of the family instantly - my family are the lifeboat.”

All members of the lifeboat team had a helping hand in the wedding, from making table decorations to wedding favours - and all for free.

Even town members got involved.

Vicky Hope, owner of The Fairydust Emporium in Silloth, made a cheese wedding cake for the special day and gifted it to Andy and Sarah as a wedding present.

Vicky said: “I love that Sarah used local businesses such as Little Gems for her table plan and table settings which were incredible and unique. It was an amazingly genuine, loving wedding and it meant so much to be part of it.”

Sarah continued: “It was amazing; we had so much help from everybody. The crew members just chipped in and helped out.

“Every member helped out in some way, from table decorations to the cake, just everyone. The town really came together.”

In total, 158 guests attended Andy and Sarah’s wedding - and every one was from Silloth.

“It was a huge community event. The cake was phenomenal, [reception venue] The Lido was amazing,” Sarah said.

“It was overwhelming, magical. To find a place like that... it’s amazing, they mean so much to us. They’ve made our wedding the best wedding.

“We really want to thank everyone for everything they’ve done for us. If the town hadn’t pulled together like they did, we wouldn’t have had all of that. We’re so proud and lucky.”

Andy added: “I’m so proud of the lifeboat family and that they made it all happen.”

Eddie Studholme, lifeboat operations manager, described Andy and Sarah as popular members of Silloth RNLI.

He said: “All the crew found it was a great pleasure to be involved with the arrangements and planning of their wedding. We were enormously proud when they decided to get married and involved us in their wedding plans.

“All members of the crew are equally dedicated, but this just proved to what extent they are prepared to go. I am very proud and honoured to have such a dedicated and committed team of volunteers at Silloth lifeboat station.”