Covid: Sunshine in Wales puts indoor meet-ups on hold

No limit on outdoor gatherings saw beaches like Barry Island packed on Saturday

More people can meet indoors from Saturday as Covid restrictions in Wales are relaxed - but many instead went out enjoying the hottest day of the year.

Usk in Monmouthshire recorded the highest temperature in Wales on Saturday, according to provisional data from the Met Office, reaching 29C.

It forecast Wales could be the hottest place in the UK on Sunday, rising to highs of 33C in parts of south Wales.

HM Coastguard warned beachgoers to watch the tide times and avoid danger.

Sunbathers were reminded to plaster on the sun cream, especially children.

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As the first week of the six-week school summer holiday began, new figures released by the RNLI showed lifeguards in Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Swansea, the Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend and Denbighshire helped 888 children and 715 teenagers last year.

The charity said they saved the lives of 12 children and teenagers between June and September.

Most of those offered help by the RNLI's lifeguards in Wales were simply out enjoying a walk and not expecting to even get their feet wet, it said.

The sunshine attracted the crowds to Cardiff Bay

Families were urged to take care on Welsh beaches as they enjoyed a little more freedom after further lockdown easing.

RNLI water safety lead Chris Cousens said: "We see a big increase in the number of incidents in the sea involving children and teenagers during the school summer holidays and we would urge everyone - but families in particular - to be aware of the risks and know what to do in an emergency.

"Children should be supervised at all times and people of all ages should avoid swimming alone.

"We want people to enjoy the coast but urge everyone to respect the water, think about their own safety and know what to do in an emergency," he said.

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One local worker said he had never seen Llyn Tegid so busy

Springer spaniel Ollie went for a paddle and was not seen for another three hours

Rescue teams helped three paddleboarders to dry land after they got into difficulty west of South Stack Lighthouse on Anglesey.

In the Vale of Glamorgan, the coastguard was called to the aid of a man who suffered head injuries after he was struck by a falling rock at Jackson's Bay.

Barry coastguard issued a warning to walkers to avoid sitting near cliffs.

A springer spaniel called Ollie who swam out to sea sparked a rescue operation near Porthcawl.

After going in for a paddle at Newton Point at 08:00 BST, Ollie went missing until he was spotted three hours later at the base of a cliff at Southerndown.

It was also a busy afternoon for the coastguard in Rhyl, working alongside the RNLI and lifeguards to help beachgoers who were becoming cut off by the tide.

Andrea Keenan, coastguard rescue officer, said: "The excellent weather has increased the number of visitors to the beaches today, and with it we've seen people unaware of the tidal conditions and unfortunately getting cut off from the shore on sandbanks.

"We advise people to visit a lifeguarded beach, and check the tide times ensuring that they are aware of any banks, and the potential of being cut off by an incoming tide"

At Llyn Tegid, in Bala, Gwynedd, the crowds were said to be "setting up from first thing this morning".

One local worker said he had "never ever seen it so busy".

Safety warnings

Not everyone headed to the beach, with many enjoying visits to villages like Betws-y-Coed in Conwy county

The highest temperature of the year was reached in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Friday, and looked set to be beaten again on Saturday and Sunday.

Wales' burns unit reported it had already treated three children for severe sunburn in two days.

Nurse Hannah Brew at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery at Swansea's Morriston Hospital said families needed to take extra care in the sun.

"One blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma later in life," she said.

Doctors advised parents to encourage children to play in the shade as much as possible, wear hats and long sleeves, and apply regular applications of sun cream to the skin.

"It's also important to apply sun cream regularly and to keep hydrated," said Dr Zoe Lee.