Thieves and vandals have made off with 30 lifebelts from Clacton seafront putting lives at risk in the lead up to the new season.

The orange lifebelts - which will cost around £1,000 to replace - have been stolen over the past four weeks. It takes the total to more than 1,000 removed over the past ten years.

The worst affected area of coastline is from the east side of Clacton Pier, from the pier up to Gunfleet Sailing Club.

So far only three of the lifebelts have been recovered by Tendring District Council (TDC) staff who regularly check to see if any are missing.

On average about 150 are removed along the whole of the Tendring coastline each year.

Pierre Oxley, Portfolio Holder for Leisure at TDC, said he was disgusted that anyone would steal lifebelts which are potential lifesavers.

"You never know when a lifebelt might be needed by someone who may get into difficulty in the sea," he said.

"This is why they are stationed at regular intervals along the coast and we make sure that they are maintained on their station. Checks are carried out weekly in the winter and daily during the summer season."

Cllr Oxley said he was appalled to learn that so many had been taken from one stretch of the Lower Promenade at Clacton over such a relatively short period of time.

He asked if anyone found one to contact TDC's Seafront Manager Tim Sutton on 01255 686681 and anyone who had any information about the thefts to contact Clacton Police.

"It is a criminal offence to tamper with this equipment and the Council will definitely press for a prosecution if there is the evidence available," added Cllr Oxley.

"It is certainly in everyone's interests to see these people caught. It maybe you, or one of your family that needs to be rescued and Council Tax payers are also being hit in the pocket as the lifebelts have to be replaced and paid for."

Mr Sutton said he found it difficult to understand why anyone would take one of the lifebelts.

"There are of little use or value to anyone else - but may well be the difference between life and death for someone who gets into danger in the water," he said.

The Council has 84 lifebelt stations along the entire stretch of the Tendring coastline.

7/4/09