Two men are belived to be missing in the sea off a beach in Devon after a number of people were reported to be in difficulty on Christmas morning.
Emergency services were called at 10.25am to the beach at Budleigh Salterton following concern for swimmers in the water.
A yellow weather warning is in place in Devon today for wind and it is warned east to northeasterly winds will become particularly strong and gusty.
According to Devon and Cornwall Police, a number of people have been safely recovered to shore and will be checked by paramedics.
Coastguard and RNLI crews are continuing search efforts in the water.
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘There is a significant amount of emergency service personnel working on this incident and we ask that people do not enter the water along this stretch of coast while this incident is ongoing for public safety reasons.’
HM Coastguard said it was alerted at around 10am. Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth and Torbay and coastguard search and rescue helicopters have been sent to the scene to assist, alongside police and ambulance service.
Hundreds of people were seen gathering at Exmouth and Budleigh beaches this morning for unofficial Christmas Day swims.
Earlier, Devon and Cornwall Police urged people to stay out of the sea due to ‘an incident in the water’.
The force said: ‘Please do not enter the water and avoid the area.
‘We are also urgently asking the public not enter the water at Exmouth for the Christmas day swim while emergency services are committed with this incident’.
One local said: ‘Awful.
‘The advice was clearly issued not to swim today with many organised events being cancelled.
‘Hoping for a positive outcome for everyone affected.’
Another said: ‘Did people see the state of the sea today and think its probably not the best idea to go for a swim?’
While another added: ‘Our local swim was cancelled and quite right too.
‘The swell was huge and the wind set to increase.
‘No need to go in today wait until it settles down.’
Melissa Hill, who was visiting the town for Christmas, was at the scene and said: ‘The coastguards have cordoned off part of the path where the swimmers set off from.
‘They are overlooking the area where this happened. It is such a awful thing to have happened. There is no good time to die but Christmas Day is so terrible.
‘But the conditions are dreadful. The sea is cold, the wond is strong and the waves are crashing in. I can’t believe anyone went into the water when it was like this.’
A local woman added: ‘We went to see the annual Xmas Day swim at Exmouth which is next door to Budleigh Salterton.
‘There were many, many hundreds of people who went in and it passed without incident. I can’t believe they went in because there have been warnings about the conditions in Devon and Cornwall. Some organisers sensibly cancelled their events.’
A coastguard at the scene said: ‘This was a major response. We have had multi helicopters, lifeboats and coastguards on scene.
‘I cannot provide any other information.’
The Met Office warned of ‘strong and gusty east to northeasterly winds’ from 4am until 11.59pm on Christmas Day in parts of the south west of England and Wales.
It said peak gusts would reach 45mph to 55mph but these could reach 55-65mph along some exposed costs and to the west of prominent hills.
Disruption could be caused to transport and power supplies, the forecaster said.
It added: ‘Large waves will be an additional hazard on some coasts.’
This is a breaking story. More to follow.
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