Lifeboat crews rescue 14 in weekend tidal surges

It proved to be a busy weekend for RNLI crews in Wirral

Fourteen people and four dogs were rescued over a period of 48 hours after being cut off from rising tides in Wirral.

Lifeboat crews made two separate rescues at 11:00 BST on Sunday after four people and three dogs were stranded off West Kirby.

It came after ten people and a dog were saved in the same area on Friday from swirling waters on the Dee Estuary near Hilbre Island.

The RNLI said its volunteer crew had found two people and their dog "ankle deep in water" with the water level rising rapidly in the first rescue on Sunday.

They had been cut off by the tide between Middle Eye and Little Eye islands.

The RNLI said they had "retreated onto slippery rocks" to avoid the rising sea.

The service said one of its crew members then spotted two more people and two dogs cut off between Hilbre Island and Middle Eye.

Andy Brown, from West Kirby RNLI launch authority, said the busy weekend was due to "high spring tides" and strong winds.

He added: "As always, we are grateful to the members of the public who did the right thing in calling the emergency services and asking for the coastguard.

"Even though the individuals had planned their trips carefully, the tidal surge proved to be too strong."