Forty people rescued in a day despite tide warning

A lifeboat station said 40 people were cut off by the tide in the space of two hours despite its recent warning.

Wells RNLI in Norfolk described Saturday as exceptionally busy, with 30 people reported stranded on a sandbank at Brancaster and 10 at Wells beach, although not all waited to be helped.

A social media post said: "We have yet more reports of people putting their lives in danger trying to wade back to safety, please don't do it."

On Tuesday it warned beachgoers of "incredibly hazardous" incoming tides after a person had to be rescued.

It advised people to return to dry sand or land, with no more channels to cross, at least four hours before high tide.

Most of the 30 people reported stranded in Brancaster at 12:10 BST on Saturday made their own way to safety but Hunstanton RNLI hovercraft took 10 people to shore.

Wells inshore lifeboat was stood down but, as it made its way back to base, received reports of more people cut off by the tide at the western side of Wells beach.

"The lifeboat crew safely assisted seven adults, three children and two dogs from the quickly diminishing sandbank back to shore," the RNLI said.

It advised anyone cut off by the tide to call 999 and give as accurate a location as they can.

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