The RNLI is urging people heading to the coast to stay safe now that the lifeguarding season draws to a close.

Lifeguards have been safeguarding people on beaches across Wales, including Rhyl and Prestatyn, throughout the summer but this service ended at the beginning of September.

Chris Cousens, RNLI Community Safety Partner, said: ‘With the weather starting to turn colder as we head into the Autumn and Winter, and sea conditions becoming more challenging, we are asking people to take more care on the coasts. With no lifeguards on duty we are reminding people that if they get into difficulty themselves, or they see someone in difficulty on the coast or at sea call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

Our volunteer lifeboat crews remain on call all year round, and are ready to assist 24 hours a day, but the best thing we can advise is that if you are heading to the coast please respect the water, check tide times online or locally and read coastal safety signs and follow the advice on them’.

RNLI lifeguards patrol over 249 beaches around the UK and Channel Islands.

RNLI lifeguards are qualified in lifesaving and casualty care, highly trained, strong and fit. They must be able to swim 400m in under 7½ minutes, and run 200m on sand in under 40 seconds. However, a good lifeguard rarely gets wet - 95 per cent of a lifeguard's work is preventative.

RNLI lifeguards monitor sea conditions and set up the appropriate flags, watch the people on the beach and offer safety advice both on the beach and in classrooms through our education programmes.

With the summer drawing to a close and children heading back to school, the RNLI’s Lifeguards are finishing for the season on most of the beaches they patrol in Wales.

Matt Jessop, Denbighshire RNLI Lifeguards Supervisor, said: "RNLI lifeguards in Denbighshire have worked extremely hard throughout this summer season to keep the public safe on their beaches.

"They have conducted several water based rescues, dealt with minor first aids and missing person incidents as well as countless preventative actions."