VALE school children will swap the classroom for the beach when they Hit the Surf with the RNLI lifeguards this week.

RNLI lifeguards will be holding the charity’s popular Hit the Surf safety programme on Tenby South beach and Whitmore Bay (Barry Island) this week as they teach children from Barry and Pembrokeshire how to stay safe on the beach this summer.

More than 500 pupils from 20 Vale primary schools took part in the RNLI’s Hit the Surf programme on Whitmore Bay last year.

The Hit the Surf safety programme teaches children aged seven to 11 years old vital skills to help them stay safe whilst visiting the coast over the summer.

As part of the half-day session children are taught the meaning of beach flags, the dangers of rips and tides and what to do if they spot someone else in trouble.

The highlight for each child every year is the chance to put on a wetsuit and learn basic body surf skills under the watchful eye of the RNLI lifeguards.

Elin said: “We have an amazing coastline here in Wales and the beach is a great day out for all the family. It’s nice to see the children leaving each session having learnt new skills – hopefully some will share these safety tips with other members of the family as they visit the beach this summer.”

The charity will be running Hit the Surf sessions on Whitmore Bay for two weeks starting Monday June 1.

For details on how to stay safe on the beach this summer, visit www.rnli.org.uk/beachsafety or download the charity’s’ beach safety mobile app.