Thirteen people were rescued in one day by lifeguards, most of whom were in danger due to using inflatables, despite clear warnings on how to stay safe at the beach.

RNLI lifeguard teams in west Dorset have been working hard to prevent and respond to incidents as the warm weather and start of the summer holidays bring the crowds to the coast.

Sunday was particularly busy for lifeguards covering west Dorset and Weymouth as they assisted 13 people safely back to shore. Although inflatables are popular beach items in the summer months, they are normally designed for pools rather than sea conditions.

If you do use them at the beach, make sure that you remain close to the shore and that children are closely supervised. Never use inflatables when the orange windsock is flying or when the wind is blowing offshore as these conditions could drag them out to sea.

On the same day, lifeguards also rescued two girls who were trying to swim back after falling from a kayak. If you plan on using a sea kayak or stand up paddleboard, make sure that you wear a lifejacket and carry a means of calling for help in case you get into difficulty in the water.

The area will remain busy this week, with Lifeboat Week running in Lyme Regis. The annual fundraising week offers a range of fun events for all the family, making them popular with locals and tourists alike.

Dominik Fajkiel, RNLI lifeguard supervisor in Weymouth and West Dorset, said: "Our lifeguards have been busy keeping people safe around the coast and we advise those who are planning a trip to the beach to head to a lifeguarded one. Lifeguarded beaches provide much greater safety for general beach users, swimmers and water sports enthusiasts. The safest place for swimmers and bodyboarders is between the red and yellow flags as this area is most closely monitored by the lifeguards."