A 12-year-old boy has been hailed a hero after his quick-thinking led to four youngsters being airlifted to safety when they got cut off by the rising tide in Tenby at the weekend.

A Year 8 student at the town's Greenhill School, Kiefer Thomson used his mobile 'phone to dial 999 and alert the emergency services to the drama, which unfolded at Atlantic Steps, below The Esplanade, at approximately 5.30 pm on Saturday.

Two of the boys climbed onto an outcrop of rocks about three metres above the sea and were unable to go anywhere, while the other two tried to get help, but were also cut off by the tide and were forced to climb the cliff to get to temporary safety and await rescue.

After receiving Kiefer's call, Milford Haven Coastguard dispatched the Tenby Coastguard Rescue team with their cliff rescue equipment to the scene, along with the town's all-weather lifeboat, the RFA Sir Galahad, and the inshore lifeboat. A rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor in north Devon was also requested.

The two lifeboats lit up the area, as coastguards lowered a team member down the cliff to two of the boys. He remained with them until the rescue helicopter airlifted all four to the safety of the nearby Rectory car park.

Although cold and frightened, the boys, three aged 12 and one aged 11, were otherwise unharmed, but they were checked over by ambulance staff before being reunited with relatives.

Milford Haven Coastguard watch manager, Andrew Hodgson, said that on Saturday winds were west-northwest up to gale force and there were two to three-metre seas.

He was also full of praise for the youngsters, who are all local.

"Once they realised their danger, they did the right thing and stayed where they were," he said. "I think they remembered the skills they had learnt at one of the Crucial Crew days, organised by the emergency services, which they had attended. They did not let panic take over and try and climb the cliff, which could have resulted in something worse happening."

And there was praise too for Kiefer.

"He could see they were in trouble and did exactly the right thing by pinpointing exactly where they were."

As well as praising the children, the incident has led to a warning from the coastguard.

"We would remind people to always check the time of high water before going on a beach walk," added Mr. Hodgson.