Parents are being urged to sign their children up for sea swimming lessons in Clacton and Dovercourt this summer.

Swim Safe, which teaches youngsters about water safety in the sea, will include free public safety sessions during the summer holidays.

The national RNLI and Swim England initiative is delivered in Clacton by Tendring District Council (TDC) and sessions in Dovercourt are supported by Harwich Haven Authority.

Public sessions are being held at Clacton’s Martello Beach between Monday, 29 July and Friday, 9 August, and at Dovercourt Bay from Saturday, 20 July, to Monday, 22 July.

TDC swimming teachers instruct the sessions, with TDC Beach Patrol lifeguarding them.

Kieran Charles, TDC’s Sports and Leisure Operations Manager, said: “The Swim Safe sessions are not only lot of fun, but they could also help to save lives.

“The initiative is aimed at swimmers at all levels and teaches important skills about going into the sea, including floating to live, signalling for help, and generally respecting the water.

“We recognise the inherent dangers of the sea and hope that by supporting educational initiatives such as this we can help to make our coastline as safe as it can be.

“Most of the sessions take place in the morning, so would make a great start to a day at the seaside.”

School Swim Safe sessions have also been taking place at Clacton’s Martello Bay this month.

Philippa Mathews, headteacher of St Philomena’s School in Frinton, said she was pleased that pupils from the school had the chance to learn vital skills.

She said: “As a coastal school it is incredibly important that all our pupils know how to stay safe in open water.

“Pupils from Years 5 and 6 thoroughly enjoyed attending Swim Safe this year and returned to school feeling confident that they have the necessary skills to remain safe whilst enjoying our beautiful coastline.”

Swim Safe has been supported by TDC every year since 2017, with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic, as part of the wider education work carried out by the Tendring Water Safety Forum.

Find and book your Swim Safe session at www.swimsafe.org.uk.

‍