The RNLI has issued a warning after figures revealed lifeboats in west Cumbria were launched 33 times in 2016.

Workington's RNLI station was called to 18 incidents, the highest number in the county. Barrow followed with 16 launches, Silloth with eight and St Bees with seven.

Figures released today show an increase of more than eight per cent in lifeboat launches in the north of the country, from 954 in 2015 to 1,032 last year.

The charity's lifeguards also saw an increase in the incidents they attended, with 2,398 incidents in 2016 compared to 2,065 in 2015 on the 38 beaches patrolled in the north of the country.

Darren Lewis, RNLI lifesaving manager, said: "In 2016, our charity's lifeboat crews and lifeguards in the north of England saved 64 lives.

"The figures from last year show immense dedication by our volunteer lifesavers, but the increase in lifeboat launches and incidents dealt with by our lifeguards highlights the need for people to be extra vigilant in or around water.

"With Easter just around the corner, it's the ideal time to remind people that to have an enjoyable time at the coast, they need to treat it with respect. A little preparation beforehand and knowing what to do if you do get into trouble can sometimes mean the difference between life and death."

Top safety tips for people visiting the coast include: familiarising yourself with tide times before setting off, always letting someone know where you are going and what time you expect to return, the correct way to raise the alarm if you do get into difficulty – by calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard and to always swim at a lifeguarded beach.

The charity's lifeguards will be returning to many beaches in April with safety patrols operating until September.

Darren added: "We'd always urge people to visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags.

"RNLI lifeguards are highly trained and are able to deal with anything from locating missing children through to lifesaving rescues.

"They're always happy to offer friendly safety advice and this provides beach users with extra peace of mind."

In the whole of the north of England, the busiest lifeboat crew last year was Sunderland, which launched its inshore lifeboats 100 times, followed by Blackpool with 84 launches, Tynemouth with 75 and Humber with 67 launches.