It was all hands on deck when a lifeboat usually only launched in emergencies became the setting for a special family occasion.

Twins George and Harry, eight-and-a-half months old, were christened on board the Shoreham lifeboat on Sunday afternoon.

Their father, Charlie Hubbard, has been a crew member for the last ten years and kept up with a family tradition by having the twins christened on board RNLI Hermione Lady Colwyn.

Charlie's older son, Christopher, eight, was also christened on a lifeboat.

He said he thought it was "brilliant" the twins were having the same privilege.

Forty guests climbed on board and the boat was gently lowered down the slipway for the 20-minute service.

Mr Hubbard, who works as a fisheries protection officer from Brighton Marina, said the whole family loved being in the water.

He said: "The twins both love splashing about in the bath and you can't keep my eldest son out of the water.

"If there's an emergency at sea, we will have to get everybody off. Either that or they'll just have to come with us."

Charlie and wife Sandy, who live at The Paddocks in Lancing, made sure the lifeboat crew felt a part of their day by choosing five crew members as godparents.

They were coxwain Peter Huxtable, second cox Peter Lowe, assistant mechanic Mike Fox and his wife, Sue, and crew member Kieran Price.

The Rev Marcus Ronchetti, vicar of the Church of the Good Shepherd at Shoreham Beach, conducted the ceremony.

He said: "The service normally happens in church but there's a family tradition of having their children christened on board.

"Every year I take part in the blessing of the boats service but I am quite excited by what is an interesting and unusual event."

Chris Bunby, honorary secretary of the Shoreham lifeboat, said: "We are always here for the crew.

"There seems to be a tradition that Charlie's family have got into.

"We will have to go if we get a call. Being a lifeboat station is a 24-hour service and if something comes in we will just have to go."