RNLI lifeguards have carried out 33 rescues while patrolling the beaches along Whitsand Bay in their busiest week of the holiday season so far.

The charity says 23 of the rescues involved children, prompting the lifeguards to remind parents of the importance of supervising youngsters on the beach. RNLI lifeguard supervisor Chris Wafer said: 'We're now very much in the busy peak summer holiday season and the beaches are busy with families enjoying the good weather. The arrival of some surf on the south coast provided fun conditions for water users but also made the rip currents more prominent.'

Many of the rescues occurred just outside red and yellow flagged areas and mostly involved bodyboarders who had taken their feet off the floor to catch a wave and drifted out of the flagged areas, getting caught by rip currents.