The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) rescued stranded walkers and dogs trapped by perilous waters in Merseyside, England.

Lifeboat crew rushed to to the scene upon being notified that three women and their dogs were stranded near Little Eye Island in West Kirby on February 14.

The ladies from Merseyside and North Wales were walking their labradors along the Wirral when the fast-moving tides swept in and left them trapped.

Christine Potter, one of the walkers, said: 'I called 999 and asked for the Coastguard who stayed on the phone with me until we were picked up by the RNLI and taken to safety.

'They took great care of us and didn't at all complain or make us feel bad for what had happened even though we felt stupid. We were educated on spring tides and will know better for next time.'

Chris Gatenby, helm at West Kirby Lifeboat Station, said: 'Had we not been able to get to them as quickly as we did, they would have been stranded on the island, freezing and without shelter. They would have faced a wait for as long as five hours to be able to walk to safety.

'As soon as we received the information about a group stranded in this area, especially when were advised one of the casualties was a non-swimmer, time was of the essence. The tide was flooding in far quicker than it usually does, it was a real relief when we arrived at the scene and saw that they were all standing despite being in at shoulder depth.

'It's so important to check the tide times, this incident proves how quickly the direction of the tide can change and flood in. Always carry a means of calling for help, you never know when you might need it.'