LIFEGUARDS in Weymouth are the first in the country to use a new beach safety scheme for lost children.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is trialing its Child Safe scheme on the town's beach with the possibility of it being rolled out to the rest of the UK.

Weymouth RNLI lifeguard supervisor Darren Lewis said: "It is hoped that the scheme will speed up the process of reuniting a missing child with their guardian.

"While it reduces stress, worry and trauma it also allows RNLI lifeguards to concentrate on their primary purpose of search and rescue, thereby preventing other children and adults from getting into difficulty or danger.

"This has had a very limited trial on a private beach before but this is the first public beach to be involved."

Parents or guardians who have lost their children will be able to call the lifeguard hut directly on a number which will be advertised on posters along the beach.

They will be asked for their child's details and lifeguards can begin an immediate search.

Mr Lewis said: "It will save vital time where the parents are walking up and down the beach looking.

"The telephone service will run 24 hours a day and out of hours calls will be directed through to an operator who will be able to contact local police with the details.

"This scheme is already working well and we hope to continue using it in the future."

The phone service will also include a daily safety message which will give regular updates on the weather and sea conditions.

RNLI research has revealed that only four per cent of beach users give any thought to safety features.

The scheme will complement other safety measures already in place such as children's wristbands which contain their parents names and numbers and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's lost children points.

Last year 460 children became lost on RNLI beaches.

So far this year RNLI beach lifeguards have helped 143 lost children.