COASTGUARDS are warning bathers not to take inflatables out to sea, after a scare on the North-East coast yesterday.

Lifeboats were launched at Redcar, east Cleveland, at about 2.30pm after inflatables were spotted two miles out to sea. It proved to be a false alarm.

As the vessels were returning to shore, the crews saw a teenage boy in a dinghy that was also drifting out to sea as he chased a football.

Coastguards escorted him back to the shore safely but sent out a warning to other youngsters in a bid to avoid tragedy in the waters this summer.

"The beach can be fun but people need to remember that the sea is a cold and dangerous place all year round," said a spokesman for Redcar Lifeboat Station.

"If you do get into difficulties in an inflatable, do not attempt to swim ashore.

"A dinghy on the surface on the water is more easy to spot than the head of a person trying to swim."

The spokesman urged people who lose inflatables when they blow away to inform the coastguard so it does not needlessly send boats out.