'PEOPLE who get stuck on the beach should pay for recovery.'

That is the view of a number of residents who are calling for motorists to be charged for recovery costs if their vehicles get stuck on Sedgemoor beaches.

The calls come after The Weekly News published a story about a driver whose car got stuck in mud on Brean Beach on January 14.

In a heated debate on social media some residents argued that motorists should be charged for recovery costs if their vehicle is stranded on the beach while others said donating to rescue charities would be a better option.

One resident, Bridget Parsons, said: "It is about time these silly people were charged for the service of getting them out of the mud, after all there are enough notices that warn them.

"Why isn't there a charge for this in this day and age?

"There are more of these incidents every year but there isn't any need for them.

"People need to look and take notice of the signs and read what they say.

"It's becoming quite a regular thing, not only in summer when we have a lot of visitors but also now in the colder months. "It’s dangerous for all concerned. I think a fee should be charged if the owner of the vehicle cannot pay for their vehicle to be rescued."

Another resident, Elaine Fowler, echoed Bridget's comments and said she thinks motorists should cover their own recovery costs.

"People who get stuck on the beach should pay for recovery," Elaine said.

"The warnings signs are up so if they chose to ignore them then it’s their responsibility to recover their vehicle."

But a spokesman for Burnham Coastguard said they do not believe fining people is the best option.

"The beach is visited by thousands of people in their cars every year which means that the percentage of people who get stuck is extremely low," the spokesman said.

"If there was a fine system in place then it may reduce peoples willingness to call for help which may put lives at risk.

"We find that it is lack of beach safety awareness that catches people out which is why we work hard to promote safe beach use via our Facebook page, not only to our local community but more importantly to visitors who have no experience on beaches and are unaware of the local landscape."

A spokesman for Sedgemoor District Council, said the council has no legal authority to levy fines on motorists.

"It is public open space, we have no legal authority to levy fines," the spokesman said.

"If it is a commercial company that pull them out, the owners get the bill directly.

"If they are rescued by BARB Search and Rescue donations to the charity are usually given."