Llandudno Lifeboat volunteers were scrambed yesterday to rescue kayakers in distress.

HM Coastguard Holyhead alerted the Llandudno station at 8.15pm yesterday evening requesting an immediate launch of the in-shore lifeboat to rescue kayakers who had capsized off Angel Bay. The kayakers who were unable to self-rescue had been in the water for approximately 45 minutes.

Llandudno’s RNLI inshore lifeboat Dr Barbara Saunderson with her volunteer crew proceeded the one mile to Angel Bay and recovered two casualties from the water placing them on board the inshore lifeboat.

The Lifeboat Helm decided to return the casualties to the lifeboat station to hand them into care of RNLI personnel and Llandudno Coastguard Team whose attendance had been requested.

The lifeboat then returned to Angel Bay to collect two other members of the group from a beach on Angel Bay and return them safe and well to the lifeboat station.

Lifeboat Helm Bert Williams said: "We went to assist a group of four kayakers who were in difficulty off the Little Orme, on arrival on scene we quickly extracted two very tired casualties from the water and returned them to the lifeboat station for a first aid assessment.

"We were very grateful that members of the Llanrwst Canoe Club who were in the vicinity were able to provide valuable assistance as the rescue was executed."

A spokesperson for Llandudno RNLI said: "This was a short but very well executed service with a good outcome. The kayakers had all prepared for their activity, but this incident demonstrates how quickly things can go wrong and it is always important to be well equipped for all eventualities."

For advice on safe kayaking, please click here.