A couple and their dog had to be rescued by a lifeboat after getting cut off by the tide on marshes where a bridge is still waiting to be replaced.

Wells inshore lifeboat was sent to nearby Stiffkey just after 8.15pm on Saturday after the pair became stranded. 

They were ferried ashore unharmed after being located by coastguards.

Afterwards, it emerged that they had thought a marsh bridge, which was removed two years ago because it was unsafe, was still in-situ because they had seen it on an online map.

The National Trust, which owns the site has said the structure will be replaced but has not so far given a timescale.

Eastern Daily Press: Wells inshore lifeboat which was called out to rescue a couple who were cut off by the tide at Stiffkey on Saturday nightWells inshore lifeboat which was called out to rescue a couple who were cut off by the tide at Stiffkey on Saturday night (Image: Ian Burt)

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Posting on social media, the woman who was rescued said: "It was a very scary evening and luckily we had been rescued before we really got into a dangerous situation, the tide came in very fast water levels rising fast through the marshes all around us faster then we could get back to the car park.

"Thinking the bridge was still there we thought we would be OK, when we got there and realised it had gone we knew we where in big trouble.

Eastern Daily Press: The bridge before it was taken downThe bridge before it was taken down (Image: Martin Sizeland)

"We're very thankful to the people for their time and rescuing us. We can't thank them enough. 

"The bridge really needs to be sorted before this happens to anyone else."

At first, the trust said it would not replace the bridge because it would harm wildlife by attracting more visitors to the area.

It then bowed to pressure and said it would do so after campaigners warned of the dangers on the marshes. But it has not yet said when.

A spokesman for the charity said it was aware of Saturday's incident, adding: "We’d like to remind people to check the tide times before venturing out onto the marshes and to follow signage in the area.”