CRICCIETH lifeboat crew has rescued two stranded dog walkers from a sandbank on Black Rock Sands this afternoon.

This is the second time the RNLI crew has been called to rescue walkers from the same spot this year.

The Criccieth RNLI crew were called at around 4.45pm this afternoon to rescue two stranded walkers and three dogs from the sandbank at Black Rock Sands.

The Station launched their Atlantic 85 Lifeboat, Doris Joan, from Criccieth beach whilst the smaller inshore rescue boat, Margaret a Nantw was transferred to Porthmadog by road and launched from the harbour.

Both made swift progress towards the casualties location, guided from ashore by the local HM Coastguard team.

Both casualties, who were walking their three dogs along the bank, became stranded by an incoming tide which had filled the deep channels behind them with swift moving water and cutting-off their passage onto the beach. Once on scene, both casualties and their dogs were taken aboard the inshore rescue boat and taken to the larger lifeboat.

Within minutes of being taken aboard the lifeboat, the remaining area of sand had disappeared underwater.

Due to the choppy sea conditions, it was decided to transfer the walkers and their dogs ashore in the safety of Porthmadog harbour.

Neither walker required medical attention.