Local rescue services experienced a busy time on Sunday after glorious sunshine attracted large crowds to the seaside, sparking a number of incidents around the coast.

The action began shortly before 12.30 lunchtime when a five-year-old boy was reported missing at Saundersfoot.

The Tenby coastguard unit responded, but whilst en-route the team were stood down after the child was found safe and well.

Just under an hour later, the coastguard team from Manorbier and Tenby's inshore lifeboat crew were called to assist a 18-foot 'Fletcher' speed boat which had broken down off Manorbier.

The vessel, with four people on board, managed to re-start its engine, but was escorted into Lydstep by the ILB.

At the conclusion of that incident, a report was received that another vessel had broken down off Monkstone Point.

The ILB attended and escorted the 16-foot vessel the Shady Lady, which had two people on board and had run out of fuel, into Saundersfoot Harbour.

Shortly before 4 pm, a third vessel was reported in difficulties, this time off Pendine.

The 17-foot speed boat, with a father and son from Reddich, Worcestershire on board, had suffered gear box failure two miles off Dolwen Point.

The ILB and the coastguard unit were both diverted from Saundersfoot to the incident, but whilst making their way around the coast, another vessel in the area at the time, the Solomon, responded to the request for assistance and towed the speed boat into the shallow waters of Pendine Beach.

"This was the third vessel that had broken down on Sunday and the third that did not have the right sea safety equipment on board," South Pembs. Sector Manager, Dave Miller told the Observer this week.

"We would strongly advise people who are going out to sea aboard vessels that they make sure they have all the right equipment before setting out," he continued.

"It is all very well having mobile 'phones, but what most people do not realise is that a signal cannot be guaranteed out at sea and they really should carry a portable radio and flares at the least.

"If anyone is unsure of what is required then the Coastguard Agency is more than happy to advise them."

But still there was no rest for the rescue services for at 4.20 pm, a four-year-old girl was reported missing on Tenby's South Beach.

On arrival at the scene, the coastguard team discovered that the child, who was from Llandyssul, had been found and their help was no long required.

"The fine settle spell of weather over the Bank Holiday weekend drew vast numbers of visitors to the coast and whilst we were busy on Sunday, I am pleased to say the Tenby area remained major incident free all weekend," added Mr. Miller.

The rescue services also had a busy afternoon on Wednesday.

Shortly before 1.30 pm, the Tenby coastguard team were tasked and the inshore lifeboat launched to help search for a missing 10-year-old boy at Saundersfoot.

The youngster, who has Downs Syndrome, had disappeared from the Harbour, but was soon found by coastguards dangling his feet in a rock pool on the south side of Glen Beach.

While making their way back to Tenby, the ILB crew sighted two inflatables each with two people on board heading towards Caldey Island.

The crew warned the people in the dinghies about the tidal problems they were likely to encounter and offered to tow them back to the shore, but their help was declined.

The coastguard team were in action again a short while later when the parents of a teenager became concerned for his safety after he had disappeared in Tenby.

The youngster, who has a mental age of six, was on a day trip from Aberdare,# and had been with a group, including his parents in Tudor Square, when he decided to go off to the beach.

He was accompanied by a member of their group, but fears about the pair's whereabouts grew after they had not been seen for around two hours.

As the family did not know which beach the two were on, a search was carried out by beach lifeguards and the coastguard crew, however, they were tracked down on the South Beach via the accompanying person's mobile 'phone.