A group of teenagers found themselves 'in grave danger' after becoming cut off from a beach with a rising spring tide.

The six teens had been at Star Beach, a spot notorious for high tide cut-offs, when they found themselves with nowhere to climb.

It led to St Agnes RNLI being called just after 3.50pm on Sunday, after local surf life saving club member Joel Henthorn raised the alarm with the RNLI’s duty lifeguard Liam Richards.

Liam contacted Falmouth Coastguard and within minutes the inshore lifeboat was launched and underway.

Under the command of helm Richard Draisey, the crew quickly reached the local youngsters, who were trapped on the small beach between Trevaunance Cove and Trevellas.

An RNLI spokesperson said: "With the spring tide still due to rise for more than an hour, they were in grave danger.

"Two casualties were taken to by the lifeboat to Trevaunance Cove before the boat returned to rescue the final four."

And not before time, as the beach was rapidly shrinking under the incoming tide.

Crew member Dr Ed Schwarz said: "When we got back to the final four there was not much beach left for them to stand on and absolutely no way to climb out.”

The lifeboat was disinfected, refuelled and rehoused and ready for service at 4.16pm.

"The RNLI would like to take this opportunity to remind people to observe local warning signs and always be aware of tides and conditions before venturing away from guarded beaches," added the charity spokesperson.