Late night lifeboat rescue after couple and their dogs cut off by tide in north Norfolk

A couple and their two dogs were rescued by lifeboat after they got cut off by the tide on the north Norfolk coast.

The pair, who were visiting the area with their family, had walked out to East Hills, between Wells and Stiffkey, at about 4pm on Saturday.

The tide was out as they began their walk, but as darkness fell, they became disorientated and could not find their way back, before the rapidly incoming tide made it impossible for them to reach safety.

Peter Rainsford, from RNLI Wells, said the crew was paged at 10.26pm to help the stricken couple and their pets, with the Wells Inshore Lifeboat sent out to help.

He said: 'The first informant, who was the son of those cut off, had a powerful torch and was able to guide the lifeboat to the casualties, who were on the marsh to the seaward side of Stonemeal creek.

'The lifeboat crew assisted the two casualties and their two dogs into the lifeboat and ferried them and also the first informant to the safety of the coastal path and into the care of the local Coastguard Rescue team.

'Fortunately they had come to no harm and did not require any medical assistance.'

With the casualties safely ashore, the lifeboat had returned to station by 12.15am on Sunday.