A business which lost vehicles in the sea off Black Rock Sands earlier this month has thanked the local community for rallying round in their hour of need.

Kitty Orme of Birdie and Co, and business partner Dave Johnston, encountered the kindness of strangers on 14 and 15 September, when a photoshoot went disastrously wrong.

Kitty, from Tarporley, Cheshire said: “I travelled to the beach with a VW campervan, transporter and trailer, and Dave, my two Dalmatian dogs, a photographer, hair and make-up artist, a stylist and two models, went there for a 1970s beach-themed photoshoot to promote our and other businesses for future weddings.

“All rules were followed including social distancing, risk assessment and tidal times.

“Whilst moving to another site before the tide came in, the camper’s steering wheel locked. We were able to eventually load her onto the trailer. By this time another colleague helping us had become trapped in the sand and we used our tie down straps to help.

“She managed to get to safety but we ran out of time and the tide came in.”

Both vehicles were trapped as the tide rose above them.

Equipment and tools were destroyed.

“With help from the coastguard and maritime professionals, both vehicles were recovered from the sea six hours later,” said Kitty.

“As you can imagine, it was devastating to witness our beloved camper and transporter being engulfed by water.”

Dave Johnston said: “Thank you to people on the beach who brought drinks and blankets, and random people who let us stay in their house, especially during Covid.

“The local people were great, and the authorities helped us.”

Recalling the terrifying attempt to move the campervan, he said: “I hate being dramatic but I was so desperate to get it off the beach that I was swimming underneath the water with another local guy, in the sea water, nearly drowning, trying to put the rope underneath the vehicle to pull it off, three, four, five times.

“A guy in a Range Rover, I don’t know his name, he tried. He nearly damaged his Range Rover, a £100,000 vehicle, just to help us.

“On the advice of the coastguard we stepped away and just had to watch [them] sink – the new van we spent all the money on, the camper we’ve just restored, all the time and effort.

“I can’t get my words out, I’m too emotional but… we’re just a normal little company doing our best. Every penny we’ve spent, we’ve put in to it.

“I’ve lost 30 years’ worth of equipment, just washed in the sea. I don’t even know what’s there.

“I’ve lost my wallet, I’ve lost all my cards, so thank you for helping us.”

When it’s safe to return, Kitty said she would like to meet those who helped and thank them personally.

“The coastguard went beyond to help us,” she said.

“As did the community who found us somewhere to stay and gave us food, drinks, dog food, charged our phones and did so many other things for us.

“We’re really grateful.”