LIFEGUARDS are back on patrol on Dorset’s beaches starting this weekend.

RNLI lifeguards will be on duty between the hours of 10am and 6pm from today until the end of the summer season on September 21.

Last year, RNLI lifeguards helped over 18,000 people, dealing with anything from stings, slips and trips, to missing children, major first aid incidents, as well as rescues in the water.

Lifeguard Manager for Weymouth, Kester Sheppard, said: “Saving lives at sea is what the RNLI does best, which is why we are encouraging beach goers this summer to swim at a lifeguarded beach where our RNLI lifeguards will be on hand to help anyone that find themselves in trouble.”

Although Saturday may be the ideal day for ice-cream on the beach with predictions of sunshine and temperatures reaching 15 degrees Celsius in some parts of Dorset, it’s not quite bikini weather yet and the sea temperature is still very cold, which is why the RNLI advises to still wear winter wetsuits when swimming.

Beach goers in Weymouth can expect temperatures of up to 12 degrees today, dropping slightly to 10 degrees tomorrow. All RNLI lifeguarded beaches have red and yellow flags where the lifeguards have marked out the safest place for swimming.

All of the Dorset lifeguards are very friendly and happy to offer advice on the best way for you and your family to stay safe at the beach so feel free to come and speak to them.

Lifeguards will be patrolling at Weymouth, Shore Roads, Boscombe East, Boscombe West, Bournemouth East, Bournemouth West, Durley Chine, Alum Chine and Branksome Chine.

For more beach safety and advice, visit www.rnli.org.uk/beachsafety