COASTGUARDS have warned about the dangers of “wave watching” as gale force nine winds are expected to batter Wirral’s coasts this weekend.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for strong winds across the region for Saturday, with Liverpool Coastguard saying people can expect to see wind speeds of around 50mph.

Steve Cross, watch manager for Liverpool Coastguard, told the Globe: “We get incidents where people get swept off from the seaside because people go to see the huge waves and get too close and get swept off.

“Our advice is keep away from the coastline. The weather is not going to be nice. It’s going to be rainy and cold so it’s not going to be a pleasant weekend.

"Just stay safe and keep away from those huge waves.”

Coastal areas of Merseyside, including New Brighton, Hoylake and West Kirby, could be at risk of flooding due to large waves.

Wirral is no stranger to weather warnings with a similar warning put in place last month.

In December 2013, high tides and strong winds created a tidal surge that left a swathe of destruction across the borough’s coastal towns.

Huge waves flooded the promenade areas of New Brighton, Hoylake and West Kirby.

Such was the power of the sea that sections of railings and feet-thick concrete tide-breaks were ripped apart and the debris scattered across the promenade at Hoylake and Meols, forcing roads to be closed.

There was similar damage at West Kirby seafront, which was closed to traffic as flood water raced across the promenade taking several parked cars in its wake and smashing them against walls opposite the marine lake.

New Brighton’s redeveloped promenade was the worst affected.

Shops, supermarkets, restaurants and the Travel Lodge hotel at Marine Point were flooded.