Beach rescue drama

Six children, including a baby, were among 17 people plucked to safety on Sunday in a rescue involving two lifeboats and a helicopter in near gale-force winds on the north Norfolk coast.

Six children, including a baby, were among 17 people plucked to safety on Sunday in a rescue involving two lifeboats and a helicopter in near gale-force winds on the north Norfolk coast.

The two parties of day trippers had been visiting Scolt Head, at Burnham Overy Harbour, when they were cut off by the tide and surrounded by the rough sea.

The rescue has prompted another warning from lifeboat and coastguard officials for people to take notice of tide times before venturing out.

The conditions were too rough for the inshore lifeboat, meaning a lifeboat from Hunstanton and a bigger boat from Wells were sent out, as well as a rescue helicopter from Wattisham and a team of coastguards.

The stranded people were eventually brought back to shore by the Burnham Overy Ferry, which was sent out because there were calmer waters between its moorings and the island.

One of the groups consisted of four adults and three children, and the other had seven adults and three children, including a baby. No-one was hurt, but they had been wearing summer clothes and were cold and wet.

The incident comes after stern warnings about beach safety given by coastguards following three lifeboat callouts in just two hours on Tuesday.