SEVENTY caravans with holidaymakers were evacuated on Good Friday from the field they were in at Blue Anchor, as bad weather, high tides and rising river levels threatened disaster.

Watchet Coastguard led the operation at Hoburne Caravan Park, on the advice of the Environment Agency, amid fears that a 12m tide coming in and a great deal of water run-off from surrounding fields, could cause flooding and serious problems.

The evacuation started at 5.30pm and by 7.30pm the touring caravans, mostly with families and children, were safely moved to higher ground and car parks on the site.

“Everything came at once – lots of people, bad weather, high tides,” a spokesman for Watchet Coastguard said.

“It was a recipe for disaster, but everything went perfectly and it was the best thing to do.”

Members of Watchet and Minehead Coastguard, crews from Williton and Nether Stowey fire brigades, a specialist rescue team, advisory officers and the police, as well as holiday park staff, were all involved in the evacuation.

The Coastguard spokesman said the Environment Agency had advised that, with such a high tide coming in, it could back up into the River Pill, which is at the back of the holiday park and runs into the sea.

“It was Good Friday and very busy. There were children involved. W couldn’t take that chance and had to do something,” the spokesman said.

“With lots of water in the river already, if we hadn’t done it then, we explained to people we would be doing it in three foot of water, in the dark.”

The operation went really smoothly, he said, and everyone was calm.

“A lot of people thanked us, and we helped some who were stuck in the mud, had flat batteries and other problems.”

The Coastguard was also tasked at high tide in the early hours of the following morning, to make sure people in the static caravans at the back end of the holiday park remained safe.

A number of holidaymakers in the evacuated caravans decided to go home and the holiday park gave them full refunds.