FIVE people who had walked out onto sandbanks in the River Severn returned to shore just 10 minutes before a rapidly rising tide.

The coastguard at Beachley was alerted by people at Lydney harbour who had seen the party – with a dog – walking out onto the sands on Thursday evening.

They also called to the people to come back onshore.

A crew from the Chepstow Coastguard was sent to the scene and station officer Albe Drury, who lives in Lydney, also went to the harbour.

Deputy station officer Richard Hoyle said: "The tide was coming in rapidly and when Albe arrived they were making their own way back. We were very concerned as the tide would have been at Lydney within about 10 minutes.

"They were given some stern safety advice about going out onto sands. Nobody should walk out onto the sandbanks and anyone who sees people doing so should contact the coastguard."

The party, aged between 18 and 62, were all local.

It is the second time in recent weeks the coastguard has been called out to the sandbanks near Lydney.

They spent nine hours keeping a watch on a jetski and its riders who had got stuck on sands off Alvington.

Mr Hoyle said: "The tide was about a metre high but the force of it knocked an experienced lifeboat member off his seat which shows how strong it can be."