Swim Safe is an initiative that was set up by Swim Wales and the RNLI, and there will be sessions held at Criccieth Lifeboat Station over three dates in August.

Swim Safe is a great opportunity for children to learn how to stay safe in open water, which is a skill that they likely won’t practice in normal swimming lessons.

Swim Safe instructors will deliver vital water safety lessons on Criccieth’s beach, so that if children find themselves, or anyone else in danger, they know how to react.

The children attending the sessions – on Friday, August 23, Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25 - will be watched over by RNLI lifeguards, qualified instructors and volunteers.

All the kit needed to take part, including wetsuits, swim hats and flotation equipment, is provided for each child during the sessions. Children only need to bring their swimsuit and a towel.

Each session gives children:

* Up to 30 minutes of practical, in-water tuition led by qualified instructors.

* Essential open water safety advice.

Hope Filby, Swim Wales’ Swim Safe Area Coordinator, said: "Children love swimming outdoors, but it’s very different to swimming in a pool, where most children learn to swim.

"It’s essential children learn about open water safety – where it is safe to swim, how to stay safe and what to do if they get into difficulty in the water.

"We want all children to have access to this training, so all Swim Safe sessions are funded by the RNLI and Swim Wales partnership and so are completely free of charge. To take part, children must be aged between 7 and 14 and able to swim 25 metres unaided.’

The sessions will be held at Criccieth Lifeboat Station, Lon Felin, Criccieth, Gwynedd, LL52 0DN.

To book onto a free Swim Safe session, choose a time slot online here: https://swimsafe.org.uk/locations/criccieth

The Criccieth Swim Safe sessions are being delivered by RNLI Community Support Officers and Swim Wales instructors.

The Swim Safe programme aims to support the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy’s aim of reducing accidental drowning by 50 per cent by 2026, to which Swim Wales and the RNLI are committed as members of the National Water Safety Forum.

Members of the public can book on to any of the free Swim Safe sessions for free by visiting: swimsafe.org.uk/locations.