As the summer season approaches, Tendring District Council (TDC) is once again encouraging everyone heading to the Essex Sunshine Coast to ‘Respect the Water’ – with Beach Patrol teams returning to duty from this weekend. (Saturday, 24 May)

The Beach Patrol service will be active in Clacton, Frinton and Walton, while the Seafront Warden teams will be present in Dovercourt and Brightlingsea, coinciding with the start of the schools’ summer half-term break.

Following the success of safety measures introduced last year, lifeguarded beaches will once again be clearly marked with red and yellow flags.

Councillor Mick Barry, TDC Cabinet Member for Leisure and Public Realm, said:

“We’re proud to welcome visitors back to our beautiful coastline and hope they enjoy everything our beaches have to offer, alongside our local residents.

“While the seaside is a fantastic place to relax and have fun, it’s important to remember that the sea can be unpredictable.

“Our Beach Patrol teams are here to help keep everyone safe – offering guidance, first aid, and stepping in when people get into difficulty.

“Last summer, they intervened in numerous incidents, from advising swimmers who had drifted too far out, to stopping people climbing on rocks and groynes, which can be extremely dangerous.

“That’s why we continue to support the RNLI’s ‘Respect the Water’ campaign.

“We urge everyone to follow safety advice, pay attention to beach flags, avoid swimming near piers, and be mindful of tides, currents, and sudden drops in the sea floor. And please, never swim under the influence of alcohol.

“Remember, Beach Patrol is not an emergency service – if you see someone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”

Beach Patrol will operate in Clacton, Frinton and Walton most Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from 10.30am to 5.30pm, and daily during the school summer holidays.

In Dovercourt and Brightlingsea, the Seafront Warden service will be on duty from 11am to 5pm, excluding 29 May at Brightlingsea and 25, 26 and 28 May in Dovercourt.

The popular Swim Safe programme – a national initiative from the RNLI and Swim England, supported locally by TDC – will also return this July and August offering free sessions at Clacton’s Martello Beach to teach children vital sea safety skills.

Sessions can be booked online from six weeks before they begin at www.swimsafe.org.uk.