Visit beaches with lifeguards: Devon and Cornwall RNLI

In Devon, lifeguards will be on patrol at Bantham, Croyde and Woolacombe during half-term

People visiting Devon and Cornwall during the half-term holiday are being urged by the RNLI to visit those beaches with lifeguards on patrol.

The charity said it was safer for families to visit one of the 12 beaches, rather than going to one that was not patrolled.

The 12 beaches include Praa Sands, Polzeath and Croyde.

Patrols will end on 31 October. Fistral Beach, at Newquay, is covered by weekend lifeguards until 27 November.

Lifeguards are providing cover on Praa Sands, Porthmeor, Gwithian, Porthtowan, Perranporth, Fistral, Watergate, Polzeath and Widemouth in Cornwall.

Croyde, Woolacombe and Bantham in Devon will also be covered.

Public demand

Lifeguard manager for Cornwall Greg Spray said: "Beaches have been strategically chosen to ensure the RNLI lifeguard service is accessible for people, particularly along the popular stretch of the north Cornish coast.

"We'd recommend that beach users choose one that had lifeguards present and follow their advice.

"Past November, the charity's volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews remain on call 24 hours a day," he added.

The RNLI lifeguard season ended on 25 September but nine beaches in Cornwall and three in Devon extended their patrols.

In September, the RNLI said it was reacting to public demand.