BLACKPOOL beach patrol officers are warning youngsters to pay attention to seaside safety after two rescues in one week involved local youngsters.

Chief beach patrol officer Terry Rogers said that on Oct 19 at about 11.15am, two boys and a girl aged 11-13 were rescued after getting trapped by the incoming tide against the sea wall on the north side of North Pier.

"Three of our patrols attended. It resulted in one of our patrollers having to go over the sea wall on a safety harness line," he said.

It is thought the children could have ignored the safety chains which patrol officers put across sea wall steps before the tide comes in.

A rescue earlier in the week involved a different group of children who got into difficulties near Gynn Square, he said.

When officers located the children at around 9.30am on Monday (Oct 15), they were up to their waists in water, but beach patrol officers successfully talked them to safety, he said. It is believed the three children may have been walking a dog, and followed it onto the beach.

Mr Rogers said: "The tides of the last few days have been very big tides, which means that when they start to come in they come in quickly.

"As it's half term now there are quite a lot of children about. If they are coming down to the promenade area parents do need to advise them about safety and the dangers that are potentially there."

He also advised dog walkers to keep their pets on a lead when the tide is coming in or against the wall. He added: "We would ask people to find out about the tides whatever area they are in and to keep an eye on the tide particularly when it's coming in and most of all to take heed of warning signs.

"We are called to incidents like this on a semi-regular bases. The tides are low this week but even so you still have to be aware."