Lifeguards in Burnham-on-Sea are today warning that lives could be put at risk if vandals continue to steal inflatable life rings from the town’s seafront.

Thirteen rings have been stolen from the seafront during the last two years, with the latest theft occurring yesterday evening. Burnham jetty supervisor David Whitehead said that the thefts are worrying:

‘It’s very dangerous. When a ring is urgently needed by someone in trouble in the sea, it might be that one is not available because of these ongoing thefts. We’d ask anyone who sees the rings being stolen to contact local police immediately.’