Car stranding prompts tidal advice to beachgoers

Andy Stewart said the incident had served as a reminder to beachgoers to check tide times

Beachgoers in Cornwall have been asked to "be aware of their surroundings" after an unfortunate driver returned to a beach car park to find their vehicle had been surrounded by the sea.

Polzeath beach ranger Andy Stewart shared a video on social media showing an empty vehicle that had fallen victim to the rising tide on Tuesday.

After more than 800,000 people watched the video Mr Stewart said "there's nearly a million people out there now that when they next park in a beach car park will be looking out for tide times".

He said while no-one had been injured and the car had not been damaged on this occasion, visitors to the coast should check signs and tide timetables.

'Be aware'

There is a sign by the car park that reads: "Warning - beach users should be aware that at high spring tides this car park may flood."

Mr Stewart told BBC Radio Cornwall: "The car park is tidal on spring tides and somebody clearly wasn't aware that driving past seaweed might leave their car a little bit vulnerable and the tide came in and gave it a bit of a wash."

"We know roughly when the spring tides are and there are signs but we like people to be aware of any of the risks in their surroundings - and it doesn't always happen", he added.

Spring tides happen just after every full and new moon, when the sun, moon and earth are in line creating the biggest difference between high and low water.