RNLI promenade warning as Storm Ashley hits

Waves crashing in the sea at Blackpool during gusts as Storm Ashley hits. Blackpool North Pier and the wedding chapel can be seen in the background.
Image caption,

People are urged to avoid going near the sea walls by the RNLI

  • Published

The RNLI has warned people to "stay safe and stay away" from Blackpool Promenade as the resort is hit by Storm Ashley.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning, external for high winds gusting up to 70mph (113km/h) in Blackpool until about midnight.

The lifeboat charity urged people to avoid the sea walls in particular during high spring tides, which next take place at 01:05 GMT, due to concerns of a "potential flood risk".

VisitBlackpool said the Lightpool Festival, a light art trail which opened on Friday, would not go ahead due to the "strong winds". It added it would resume on Monday and continue until Saturday.

Blackpool RNLI posted on its Facebook page it had made preparations at the lifeboat station on Central Promenade to secure equipment and the boat house.

It added: "Volunteer crews urge everyone to stay off the Promenade around tide times, especially the sea wall areas, for your own safety."

It comes as a number of visitors are in the resort for the Blackpool Illuminations and the Lightpool Festival.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk, external and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

Related topics