LIFEGUARDS will return to keep watch over Redcar and Saltburn beaches from this weekend (Saturday, May 24).

The RNLI lifeguards will be on hand during the May half-term holiday to ensure daily visitor safety and to offer friendly advice from 10am to 6pm.

Following the school holidays, a daily service will continue to operate on Saltburn beach until September 7.

Weekend-only lifeguard patrols will operate at Redcar beach until July 24, after which a seven-day-a-week service will commence until September 7.

During last year’s hot summer, RNLI lifeguards helped and aided 218 people across the two beaches.

Chris Ward, RNLI lifeguard Mmnager, said: ‘We’ll be there to offer extra peace of mind to beach users. The team will be happy to provide safety advice such as always to swim between the red and yellow flags and information on tide times.

"Ninety-five per cent of the role is preventative but RNLI lifeguards are highly trained and are equipped to deal with everything from locating missing children and treating minor cuts and grazes through to performing major first-aid and lifesaving rescues."