BEACH-goers are being warned to keep away from the rock armour and outfall pipe on Watchet's West Beach.

Recent heavy rain has again swelled the water flowing through the pipe from the Washford River and Watchet Coastguards and West Somerset Council have issued an urgent appeal for people to keep away.

The site has already seen one tragedy when a family dog drowned after strong currents sucked it under the rock armour following heavy rain in June.

And in the past couple of weeks there have been two separate incidents of people getting into difficulty - in one, a local man and a young woman became trapped in the water next to the rock armour due to the strength of the under current and the depth of water.

On Tuesday, coastguards and officials from West Somerset Council went to the beach and found the water was at least four metres deep with eddies and stopper currents which could pull someone under water into the voids under the rock armour.

Simon Bale from Watchet Coastguard Rescue Team said: "We are advising all visitors to avoid entering the water or climbing the rock armour at West Street Beach and not to try to walk through the tunnel along the Washford River under Market Street, as the conditions are such that anyone who goes in could find themselves being pulled under very quickly.

"Parents should be aware of where their children are playing and speak to them regarding the dangers of this location and the general dangers of the sea and harbour at Watchet and along this coastline."

A district council spokesman said safety signs were due to be put up to highlight the risks posed by strong underwater currents.

"Recent heavy rains have increased the flow of the Washford River and these very strong undercurrents are a serious risk to anyone entering the water.

"Safety signs are in the process of being erected to highlight the risk to public safety of climbing on the rock armour and of bathing in the naturally formed pool beside the tunnel where the Washford River enters the beach due to the strong currents that run underneath the rock armour."

Further information and water safety advice is available on the council's website and on the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents website at http://www.rospa.com">www.rospa.com.