The Government has dropped its controversial plans to stop paying Coastguard volunteers.

Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire is home to many HM Coastguard teams, from Tenby to St Govans; Dale to Llansteffan - and these teams alongside other tier 1 emergency services are very active around the Welsh coast particularly during the summer months.

The news has been welcomed by Plaid Cymru MP, Liz Saville Roberts, who said: “I warmly welcome this U-turn by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the UK Government to abandon plans to axe call-out pay for coastguard officers.

“Coastguard teams play a vital role in keeping local people and visitors safe, often responding at a moment’s notice in difficult and dangerous conditions.

“Call-out payments recognise the dedication and sacrifice these officers make when they leave their families and day jobs to answer emergencies along our coastline. Removing that support would have sent entirely the wrong message to the men and women who provide this essential service.

“I am pleased that Ministers and the MCA have listened to the concerns raised and put maritime safety ahead of damaging cost-cutting measures.

“This decision is a welcome victory for common sense and for the hardworking coastguard officers who protect communities around the coast every day.”

The change in payment plans was prompted by a court case classed responders as "workers", and not volunteers, while they were carrying out their duties for The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

As a result, MCA said it needed to change how the service operates in terms of pay. Currently coastguard officers can claim approximately £11 per hour when responding to a call-out or undertaking training.

UK government transport minister Keir Mather said he had listened to the views of coastguard rescue officers (CROs), and now a move to an expenses-only model would not go ahead.