Lifeguards issue warning over children's safety

Lifeguards are urging families to take extra steps to ensure children stay safe on the beach after dealing with a large number of lost youngsters on Thursday.

RNLI lifeguards in Skegness said they dealt with "over 20 separate missing children throughout the day" as crowds headed to the Lincolnshire resort during the heatwave. It was a similar story further up the North Sea coast, with lifeguards in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, dealing with three incidents.

They are encouraging parents and carers to pick up Sandi Starfish wristbands from lifeguard units, which parents can write their contact details on.

All the children reported lost were reunited with their families.

The wristband scheme "also gives children a nudge to think about losing you in the first place", the RNLI said.

Chris Feeley, of Bridlington RNLI, said: "It is all too easy to become separated from your children on a very busy beach, and it can be extremely distressing for everyone involved."

He said the organisation had thousands of free wristbands available for parents and carers.

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