Lifeboat crews have reiterated an annual warning about coastal safety after a walker was cut off by a powerful and fast-moving tide in north Norfolk.

Lifeboat crews have reiterated an annual warning about coastal safety after a walker was cut off by a powerful and fast-moving tide in north Norfolk.

A man was rescued by the Wells RNLI inshore lifeboat and a coastguard team after walking onto Stiffkey Marshes on Wednesday night to find the sea had come in behind him and blocked his route to shore.

It is a common problem on this shallow stretch of coastline, where incoming tides race across isolated beaches and saltmarshes in areas including Wells, Brancaster, Burnham, Morston and Blakeney.

And with the busy summer season on the horizon, Wells lifeboat coxswain Allen Frary urged holidaymakers and beach users to heed warning signs and ask for advice if unsure whether an area was safe.

'I would estimate that people being cut off by the tide, either here at Wells or on the marshes, account for around 75pc of inshore lifeboat shouts,' he said.