Parents are being urged to put safety wristbands on their children after dozens of young ones have been reported missing from Sussex beaches.

The Littlehampton Coastguard Rescue Team said teams across the county have attended multiple missing children searches over the last few weeks.

On July 28, over 40 children were reported from West Witterings in just one day.

The Selsey Coastguard Rescue Team said by the end of the day they were all found safe and well.

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Last Friday, teams were then paged again to find a missing three-year-old who had wandered off from their family.

The child was found two miles away.

To avoid further incidents, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are urging parents to take precautions.

The agency said many beaches have free safety wristbands for children to wear.

On these bands, which can be ordered for free online, parents can write down their phone number so if children go missing, people can call their parents immediately.

The aim is to make sure children are reunited with their families quickly before coming to harm.

The Littlehampton Coastguard Rescue Team has also given tips for how families can avoid these situations.

Parents have been told to take a family selfie when they get to the beach so coastguards, lifeguards and police can see what outfits missing children are wearing.

Adults should make sure they have an agreed meeting point with children so if they get lost, they know where to go to be reunited.

This could be a lifeguard hut, a prominent landmark on the beach, or a building.

In the case of a missing child, parents are advised to call 999 immediately.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "Since the start of the summer holidays, coastguard rescue teams have been responding to an alarming number of incidents involving missing children at beaches around the UK.

"Beach safety wristbands are handed out at many beaches and can also be ordered free online from our web shop.

"In an emergency at the coast, call 999 and ask for the coastguard."