SEVEN children had to be rescued by Poole lifeboat after being cut off by the tide and left stranded on a breakwater.

The incident took place around 6.20pm on Saturday in Poole Harbour.

Concerned members of the public called the Coastguards when they saw the seven youngsters, aged around 12, in trouble.

They had walked out to the Poole Quay Boat Haven breakwater from Fishermans Dock around 5.35pm at low water.

When they walked out it was on one of the lowest tides of the year, but before long the sea came rushing back.

The youths then found themselves stranded and unable to get back to shore as the spring tide flooded in through the harbour mouth.

Poole’s inshore lifeboat rapidly arrived and a volunteer crewman climbed the ladder onto the breakwater to check they were alright.

One at a time the youths were ushered down the ladder and transferred onto the inshore lifeboat.

They were taken back to the safety of Poole Lifeboat Station, where they were met by Poole Coastguards who contacted their parents.

“They shouldn’t have been there and got caught out when the spring tide came in swiftly, but they did the right thing staying put and not trying to swim ashore,” said the volunteer helmsman Dave Riley.

“With huge tides it was bound to catch someone out in one way or another,” he said.

“An awareness of tides could have prevented this incident.”

A spokesman for Portland Coastguard said: “This is the time of year when the water temperature is at its lowest.

“With the high spring tides an area which seems nice and dry is going to get quite deep soon.

“We would urge people to be aware of the tides and when the next high tide is going to be.”

n diana.henderson@|bournemouthecho.co.uk