BEACH wardens and safety staff have returned to Burnham-on-Sea beach on a limited staffing rota, Sedgemoor District Council (SDC) has confirmed.

The district council said ahead of the planned ‘season’ for beach wardens and safety staff to return to the beach there will be a limited staffing rota based at the hut at the top of Burnham-on-Sea jetty.

SDC said the service, which started on Wednesday (June 3), will be run on a partial and weather-dependent basis.

The district council planned to start the service from the end of June to allow for staff recruitment, training and appropriate Covid-19 measures to be in put in place to protect beach staff.

But due to the unprecedented numbers of visitors to the beach the council has put a restricted service in place.

A spokesperson for SDC said: "Visitors to the beach are asked to take note of the numerous safety warnings and heed them.

"The beach wardens will be able to summon help from the emergency services if required.

"A full service is planned from July 1."