BIG surf, strong winds and some welcome sunshine has prompted RNLI lifeguards to issue warning to water users on Gwithian this weekend.

The difficult conditions on the beaches along the north Cornwall and Devon coasts have already resulted over 200 people needing assistance on one day this week.

And with surf conditions looking set to remain good the charity's lifesavers are urging inexperienced water users to stay within their depth and between the flags.

At Gwithian the RNLI lifeguards have been busy assisting a number of surfers and bodyboarders and were able to head off a few serious incidents.

Phil Drew, RNLI Area lifeguard manager said: "The RNLI lifeguards rescued about 33 people on Gwithian, mostly these were people learning to surf, who'd been deceived by the lull in the sets to get themselves out back and then found that they couldn't make their own way back in.

"At one point there were about 12 people who'd either paddled or been blown out back and were then caught in the surf zone as the set came in. We had RNLI lifeguards out on paddleboards securing the casualties, and the RWC coming out to collect them and take them back to shore.

"However tempting it is to try and join the more experienced surfers, we'd urge those less capable to stay in waist depth water and stick between the black and white flags if surfing or red and yellow if bodyboarding or swimming."