A beach lifeguard service provided by Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat is set to return for the 2023 summer season.

The lifeguards will be back on duty for May half-term (Saturday 27 May to Sunday 4 June).

The team will then patrol the beach on weekends only until 17 July, after which full-time service will run until Sunday 10 September.

Lifeguard Project Manager Andrew Dean said: "We are pleased to welcome back five of last year's lifeguards, together with two new recruits for this season.

"As well as being fully qualified beach lifeguards, the team will complete additional first-aid training and take part in exercises with other agencies, such as Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat, South Western Ambulance Service and HM Coastguard, over the summer months.

"We have also made some improvements to the lifeguard unit this year, adding a roof viewing platform to give the guards better visibility of the beach. A huge thanks goes to Kings Garden Centre for kindly providing storage for our lifeguard unit over the winter months."

Last year the lifeguards responded to over 100 incidents, from weaver fish stings and missing children, to broken bones and head injuries.

Working with Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat, HM Coastguard, the police and ambulance services, Sidmouth Beach Lifeguards were also involved in a number of major incidents, including an unexploded mortar round and numerous rock falls on East Beach.