Teams of lifeguards have taken to the beaches to signal the start of the beach season.
 

A mixture of newly trained lifeguards and familiar faces – 30 in total – have joined Brighton and Hove City Council’s seafront team, patrolling the beaches from the Marina to Hove Lagoon.
 

They have all completed a lifeguard qualification and a week-long introduction course covering a range of skills from assessing sea conditions to dealing with beach hazards.
 

In an average year Brighton and Hove’s lifeguards carry out more than 100 water rescues, administer first aid to around 250 beach-goers and give safety advice to 10,000 people.
 

The new lifeguards will be on duty each day from 9.30am to 7pm, easy to spot in their red and yellow uniforms.
 

Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, chairman of the council’s economic development and culture committee, said: “Once again we are delighted to have recruited a dedicated team of lifeguards to patrol our popular beaches.
 

“The new lifeguards are committed to supporting our regular seafront officers in ensuring the millions of visitors who flock to our beaches every summer return home safe and happy.”