HM Coastguard is warning beachgoers of the risks of digging deep holes after it took 40 people around half an hour to dig down to a 'casualty' buried in the sand in a training exercise.

The training, which took place at Exmouth beach last week (21 June), was attended by local emergency services and RNLI lifeguards and crew.

It comes after a number of "extremely large and deep holes" have been dug on the beach at Exmouth in recent years.

The training was attended by local emergency services and RNLI lifeguards and crew (HM Coastguard)

HM Coastguard said it can be fatal if the sand dries out and collapses back onto someone inside.

It also explained that the best way to rescue someone is to have lots of people digging a wide 'bowl' over the initial hole to prevent it collapsing again, and that you should not dig down directly with a digging instrument as it could injure the person buried.

An HM Coastguard spokesperson said: "This method is extremely labour-intensive... we had a total of 40 rescue personnel at our exercise, and it still took around half an hour to reach the airway of a casualty that was buried under just a couple of feet of sand.

"So parents, please ask yourself if it's worth letting your kids dig holes deeper than they are."

The organisation also recommended going to a lifeguarded beach, and dialling 999 for the Coastguard if you see someone in trouble at the coast.