Wells high tide siren to sound during Tamil pilgrimage

Wells-next-the-Sea beach includes channels which refill as the tide comes in

A siren will warn of the impending high tide when thousands of pilgrims are expected to visit a Norfolk beach.

Sri Lankan Tamil Roman Catholics from across the UK will go to the shrine at Walsingham on Sunday, with many then heading to Wells-next-the-Sea.

Police have warned of heavy traffic on roads into Walsingham, towards Fakenham and the coast.

Beach safety leaflets in Tamil warn people to return to the main beach at Wells when a siren sounds at 12:50 BST.

Channels or creeks should be avoided as they can fill up with water - cutting people off from the beach - up to four hours before high tide hits at 16:50.

Anyone not attending the pilgrimage should find alternative routes, police added.

In July 2007, a boy who was part of the Tamil pilgrimage died when he was caught in a fast-moving tide.

His inquest heard he may have drowned because he could not read warnings in English, with the coroner recommending translated signs.

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