Two teenagers rescued from dinghy

The teenagers were rescued before the coastguard reached the scene

Coastguards on the Solway Firth have issued a warning after two youngsters had to be rescued as their dinghy was being washed out to sea.

The prompt action of a caravan site manager at Sandyhills Bay helped save the pair, who had been blown out on the ebbing tide by a strong wind.

The boy and girl, aged about 13, were playing with the dinghy when the incident happened at about 1530 BST.

Caravan site manager Howard Smith went to their rescue on a quad bike.

Mr Smith raised the alarm after the dinghy was spotted being blown out to sea.

'Very dangerous'

A coastguard team from nearby Portling was scrambled along with the Kippford Inshore Rescue team.

Solway sector coastguard Tony Wood said the youngsters were ashore before their boat arrived.

"It was a minor incident," he said.

"But the bottom line is the coastguard has warned people.

"Do not use inflatables in the open sea, especially when there are offshore winds - they are very dangerous."