A GROWING number of calls from people who have been cut off by the tide has prompted RNLI officials in Minehead to launch their own safety campaign.

A specially designed poster has been produced to raise awareness of the risks of walking below cliffs or of swimming or kayaking in particularly strong tidal currents.

The initiative has been launched in response to the growing number of calls the town’s volunteer RNLI crew is now answering as a result of people being unaware of tidal movements.

Most recently, two rescues were recorded in a single evening – a walker had become trapped on the beach near Kilve and an exhausted swimmer was washed onto the rocks under Hurlestone Point.

Both were rescued shaken but unharmed but Minehead RNLI chairman Bryan Stoner said there was a clear need for more warnings to be posted along the section of coast from Foreland Point to Hinkley Point which the Minehead station covered.

“The Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range in the world but few holidaymakers appear to realise how high the tide comes up – or how quickly,” he said.

“Those we have rescued recently have been fortunate because either they were able to call for help or someone raised the alarm on their behalf.

“But this station has had to deal with tide-related deaths in the past and we want to ensure we don’t have to repeat the experience.

“The RNLI is now as much about prevention as intervention, with a new emphasis on educating people about risks so they don’t put themselves into danger.

“This stretch of coastline has specific dangers and clearly these now require a specific information campaign.”

The initiative has already been backed by West Somerset Council: “We want visitors to come and enjoy our wonderful coast – but to do so safely,” said council leader Anthony Trollope-Bellew.

Anyone willing to display a poster in a shop, hotel, guest house or other public place can obtain one from the Minehead lifeboat station shop. The shop opens from 10.30am to 4.30pm daily until October 29, reverts to weekend opening 11am to 3pm until January 7 and from February 10 to 25. It is closed on Christmas Day.