COASTGUARD officers gave Wirral youngsters a warning after they went for a swim in the River Mersey.

Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team were called at around 3.05pm on Sunday after reports of a group of children swimming in choppy water near to Egremont Ferry.

Once on scene the children were already out of the water and were spoken to by Coastguard officers who warned of the dangers of swimming in bad weather conditions.

A spokesman from the Coastguard service said: "The coast is a great destination for a day out but don’t forget that conditions can change quickly and there can be unexpected hazards.

"If you see someone in difficulty, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard immediately.

"Never enter the water yourself as you may also get into difficulty, throw something in the water that floats such as the many life rings located around the coastline."

The Coastguard have also issued the following safety advice:

• Where possible, always swim or paddle on a lifeguarded beach.

• Take guidance from the lifeguards about the safest areas to enter the water, indicated by the red and yellow flags.

• Always look for warning and guidance signs.

• Swim parallel with the shore (not away from it) in standing depth water.

• Get out of the water as soon as you start to feel cold.

• Ensure you are being supervised from someone on shore who can raise the alarm if you get into trouble.