Hunstanton hovercraft was called out to the two separate terrifying incidents over the weekend where the turning tide cut them off from the beach.

Hunstanton Lifeboat Station press officer Geoff Needham said: "The tides this week are big springs and big ebbs, therefore a lot of sand will be showing. The temptation to wade out is very inviting, but can also be lethal.

"Holidaymakers in the area should take extra care when on the beach and marsh areas as the tide flows very fast, and they can soon be cut off."

On Sunday, horrified grandparents called 999 after they lost sight of their two teenage granddaughters who had gone out to the tideline at Snettisham. The hovercraft was launched at 3.15pm and managed to find the girls and bring them back to safety.

On Saturday afternoon, there was a similar incident when Yarmouth Coastguard got an SOS call after a mum and her two teenage boys got cut off by the tide on a sandbank at Hunstanton at about 4.05pm.

A jet skier came to the aid of the family, from Wellingborough, Northants, and ferried them back to shore before Hunstanton hovercraft arrived.

And Hunstanton Lifeboat was launched to help a yacht in difficulty at 3pm yesterday. The grounded vessel was reported to be listing badly and a lifeboat spokesman said the crew was aiming to get alongside and give whatever assistance was possible until the tide rose.