With the Bank Holiday weekend on the way the RNLI is calling on anyone planning to visit the Welsh coast to put safety first and listen to the charity’s advice. Following the tragic incidents around the UK in the last week, the charity which saves lives at sea is urging everyone to take extra care by the coast.

Phil Davies, RNLI Lifeguard Manager, says: "We are expecting beaches across Wales to be very busy this Bank Holiday weekend as people make the most of the last few weeks of the school holidays. We want people to enjoy our beautiful coastline, but make sure they do it safely.

"Conditions can change quickly at the beach, so it is really important to respect the water and take extra care when visiting the coast.

"If you want to swim or bathe in the sea we would advise you do so at a lifeguarded beach. The red and yellow flags indicate the safest areas to swim and lifeguards keep watch over this area, so if you do get into difficulty raise your arm and call for help. "

This weekend extra teams will be in place at various locations around the coast to provide safety advice to help keep members of the public safe.

For more safety advice visit www.rnli.org.uk/respectthewater