LIFEBOAT crews were called out six times this weekend.

Rhyl lifeboat volunteers assisted four craft, one kite surfer and rescued five people.

Calls were received between 12.30pm and 7pm on Saturday. The first call was to an inflatable, reported to the UK coastguard at Holyhead, which was drifting out to sea off Kinmel Bay. No-one was on board and the inflatable was returned to shore and retrieved by its owners.

The next call was to two kayakers, off Sandy Cove. One of the kayakers had capsized. Both kayaks, and their owners, were returned safely to shore.

Volunteers were next called out to a speedboat off Towyn. The engine had failed to start and as a result, the boat ended up on the flood relief rocks. The inshore lifeboat took onboard a man and towed the vessel back to the launch site at Pensarn.

On the Prestatyn/Rhyl border, a jet boat - with two people on board - broke down. Casualties were taken on board the lifeboat and the vessel was towed back to its launch site at Prestatyn.

Finally, a child - reported missing - was reunited with family and a kite surfer, who had become detached from their board, had to be helped. The kite surfer made their own way back to shore and the board was retrieved by crew.

Martin Jones, Rhyl RNLI Coxswain, said: "All of these incidents resulted in the safe return of people and property to the shore.

"The RNLI strongly advises boat owners to thoroughly check and test all their equipment before setting out, and have some means to call for help if necessary, such as flares and a radio. Mobile phone coverage may not be good at sea."

All casualties were met ashore by the UK coastguard volunteers from Rhyl, who issued safety advice as required.