Volunteers from the Kent Search and Rescue Service climbed into their boats and took to the River Medway to promote their latest Christmas safety campaign.

The organisation, which has 100 members, is most often called in by the police to search for people who have gone missing.

Sadly, in the past, that has included people who have fallen in the river and drowned.

A practice rescue in the River Medway in Maidstone today

During a practice run on the river in the centre of Maidstone, Kent Search and Rescue said they would much rather prevent such fatalities happening.

They are repeating last year's highly-successful campaign, warning people of the dangers of wandering too close to the water's edge after a night out celebrating.

Search manager Stuart Baird said: "Over recent years, there have been a number of fatalities, particularly of young men, who have drowned in the river after a night out.

"Last year we teamed up with the family of Ben Savage, an 18-year-old who had drowned in the river the year before, to launch our safety campaign.

"The trouble with the Christmas period is that people are often out socialising in areas that are not familiar with.

"They also tend to drink rather more and it's very easy to get too close to the river and stumble in."

Mr Baird said most of the victims seemed to be men and he suggested this might be because they are tempted to urinate in the river and misjudge their footing.

However, last year a young woman also tumbled in at about two in the morning.

She was pulled to the river bank by a member of the public and helped out by the KSAR volunteers.

Mr Baird said: "Last Christmas was the first when we didn't see a single drowning. I like to think that we played a small part in that."

Kent Search And Rescue will have two manned ribs on the river every Friday and Saturday between 9pm and 4am.

The crews will be supported by response teams with medical equipment on the banks, while cyclists patrol the tow paths.

But Mr Baird warned that revellers should not rely on the rescue boats to protect them. He said: "Our crews have been training for months and they will do the best they possibly can.

"But it's a very long river and the chances of their being in the right place at the right time are slim.

"The water is very cold at this time of year and if you fall in fully clothed having had a few drinks the chances of your saving yourself are close to zero.

"The real message we want to get across is if you are out enjoying yourself with friends over Christmas, avoid water on the way home and don't walk home alone. Look after yourself and look after your friends."

The KSAR is being supported by the family of Ben Savage, whose son Ben fell in the River Medway after a night out at Chatham's Tap 'n' Tin nightclub on December 6, 2016.

The Strood teenager's body was not found until eight weeks later near Rochester Bridge.

Ben's aunt Rita Hasemore said: "It was a terrible thing to happen and we are still suffering.

"We're very supportive of what KSAR are doing. It's something positive to have come out of such a horrific situation.

"We just hope people will take notice and take care so that other families don't have to suffer a similar loss."

KSAR volunteers are manning a safety shop in The Mall shopping centre in Maidstone, dishing out leaflets and advice.

Volunteers will also be on the tow-paths in the early part of the evening advising those heading for a night out to take care on the way back.

The KSAR Safe and Dry campaign reinforces a similar campaign launched by the Kent Fire and Rescue Service last May.

The Got Ducked Fell In campaign placed rubber ducks in pubs and bars near water in an effort to remind patrons to take care.

Over they past decade KFRS has been called to an average of 37 river rescues every year.