THE area where Kim Barrett and her children died can look peaceful and calm, but it has a grim record.

Over the years, the area has claimed a number of lives.

Slippery and covered in algae, the slipway from which the family were swept away makes it treacherous when lashed by waves.

Yesterday, local businessman Don Robinson recalled how he tried to help a young boy who had been swept through the railings 16 years ago.

The 11-year-old had been dodging waves with a group of children from Grimsby when he was washed into the sea. Mr Robinson helped to get a lifebelt, but the boy drowned.

He said: "This last tragedy has brought back horrific memories.

"I think we should close that slipway off, particularly when the tide is high; and over the past few days, the tide has been particularly high."

Since 1959, at least eight other people have died in accidents in Royal Albert Drive and Marine Drive.

In 1959, a retired farmer from Filey died after he was washed off Marine Drive by a wave.

In 1988, a driver died after his car crashed through railings, and in 1989, an 11-year-old was swept to his death after he was caught by a large wave.

In 1994, a Doncaster woman was swept to her death while trying to rescue her dog, and in 1995, a local teenager died when his motorbike crashed into railings.

In March 1997, two men died when their car plunged 40ft on to rocks below, and in May that year, a 23-year-old car passenger died when a vehicle crashed through railings into the sea.