FLINT'S Coastguard Rescue Team joined in with celebrations to help mark Her Majesty's Coastguard services' 200th anniversary over the weekend.

The service was formed on January 15, 1822, and is by today made up of 352 teams located at stations around the UK.

With a wealth of maritime history and docks in the Flintshire area, a lot is owed to the people who formed the first Coastguard Rescue Team in Flint during the 1980's too.

The Flint team carried out well over 100 rescue missions in 2021 alone.

Deputy Station Officer at Flint Coastguard, Tristan Rochfort, said: "We are lucky to still have Flint’s first Coastguard Rescue Officer on our team, Garry Jones who goes by the call sign ‘Flint 09’.

"Garry was instrumental in helping to form the Coastguard Team in Flint back in 1986, something that is today, a formidable rescue team which was called upon 137 times last year. Without Garry and the many volunteers we have on call 24/7, we simply couldn’t operate.

"So on this #CG200 Birthday, we’d like to dedicate this thanks to Garry Jones, as well as every Flint Coastguard Officer, past and present!"

The Flint team currently consists of 10 volunteers who provide the search and rescue capability in mud and water rescue for the River Dee and its surrounding areas.