A police force has issued a warning to parents visiting beaches on the Lancashire coast following “several reports of missing children”. Lancashire Police’s Fylde unit said nearby beaches had seen an increase in visitors due to the balmy weather Brits have been enjoying in recent days, but that it was “disappointing to see that youngsters are still regularly permitted to approach the water unsupervised”.
In a post on social media on Sunday, Fylde Police warned allowing them to do so “could prove fatal, even to those who are competent swimmers”. “You are also risking the lives of the coastguards who would be deployed in a rescue situation,” the message added.
Officers said that in two days “there have been several reports of missing children, which have used a significant amount of police and coastguard resources”.
The statement added that these incidents “are completely avoidable and have a detrimental impact to the service we offer, as when police officers are looking for lost children, we are unable to deal with or prevent crime”.
The unit also listed the following tips “to ensure everyone has a safe day”:
- NEVER leave children unsupervised, especially near the water.
- Remind children of the basic principles of stranger danger, and who to approach if they need help.
- Take a photograph of children at the start of the day, so you have a clear image of each child and their clothing.
- Consider attaching a wrist band to each child with a parent’s contact number, DO NOT add the child’s name.
- Discuss a meeting point with all members of the family, in the event of any person becoming lost.
But after the recent blast of hot Spring weather, the week ahead looks set to bring some heavy April showers.
The Met Office’s forecast for this evening and tonight anticipates a “band of showery rain, some heavy” remaining “slow-moving across western England, Wales and southern Scotland”.
“Clear spells and showers to the west and north and a chance of some heavy showers developing to the southeast,” it adds.
Tuesday is expected to be: “Mostly fine in the northwest. Cloudier elsewhere with showers, perhaps heavy and thundery, merging to give more persistent rain in places.
“Warm in brighter breaks in the east. Otherwise cool,” it adds.
Meanwhile, Wednesday to Friday is expected to stay changeable “with a chance of showers or longer spells of rain at times”.
“Some drier and sunnier periods also likely. Temperatures around average though feeling cooler than of late,” it adds.
Meanwhile, a yellow weather warning for rain will be in place from noon on Tuesday, until noon on Wednesday, covering regions and local authorities in North West England, South West England, Wales, and the West Midlands.
You can find the latest Met Office weather warnings and forecasts here.