With the Bank Holiday almost here, visitors are urged to plan ahead and heed water safety advice.

As part of Northumberland County Council's ‘Love it Like it’s Yours’ campaign, HM Coastguard and RNLI are reminding people of the simple, life-saving steps they can take when it comes to water safety.

In 2022 there were 226 deaths in the UK from accidental drownings.

The number of people saved while kayaking or canoeing in the UK and Ireland more than doubled last year and in July this year, with many call outs related to people being 'blown out to sea'.

Water safety advice includes taking a fully charged mobile phone, wearing a lifejacket if paddleboarding or kayaking, checking the weather and tide times, and if going in the water, it is advised to visit a lifeguarded beach.

Those who find themselves in a current and being pulled away from the shore shouldn't fight it, and instead should swim parallel to the shore until able to swim back.

Ian Woods, HM Coastguard Howick Station Officer, said: "Although they seem fun, please leave your inflatables at home. They are vulnerable to even mild breezes and currents and can be blown out to sea – with you on them – very quickly. Ultimately, they are just not worth the risk.

“If you do find yourself in trouble in the water, for whatever reason, remember the Float to Live message – lie on your back and spread your arms and legs to tread water until help arrives.

“If you are with someone who gets into difficulty in the water the best way to help is by staying calm, staying on land and following the three-step rescue guide - Call, Tell, Throw. "Ring the emergency services, give the Float to Live advice and if you can, throw a life-ring but don’t put yourself in danger by entering the water.”

Nick Ayers, Regional Water Safety Lead at the RNLI, said: “It’s really important that people recognise and understand the potential risks when going into the water. Free advice is available from the RNLI Water Safety Team and HM Coastguard to help everyone to stay safe.”