CREWMEMBERS at Burnham's BARB Search and Rescue have had one of their busiest starts to the summer holiday season after three call-outs in a week.

Paul Redfern, from Bristol, watched as his Vauxhall Frontera was lost to the sea on July 15 after it became stuck in soft sand, making it impossible for other vehicles to get close enough to pull it free.

A JCB digger and two trucks had to turn back due to the conditions.

Paul said: “I am very grateful for the efforts of everyone - it is gutting that we couldn't get it out in time but I do thank them for trying.

“I'd just been driving along the beach with my daughter enjoying the sunshine and didn't think I could get stuck.”

Crewmembers were called to Brean Down on Sunday over concerns a dog owner might put themselves at risk in the search for a missing husky. Despite a full search by Coastguards it was not found.

Burnham Coastguards and a crew from BARB were called to Brean beach on Monday (July 21) at 7.30pm after a woman was reported to be struggling through mud to reach a stranded dog on the mudflats at Brean. They were both unhurt.

As the crews were leaving, the BARB hovercraft flew out to investigate a family in potential difficulty on the mudflats at Berrow.