KITESURFERS who ignored government advice and took to the sea off Southbourne have been criticised.

Passers-by said five kitesurfers drove to the beach before taking part in the extreme sport on Wednesday afternoon.

One member of the public told the Daily Echo: "They all drove to the beach. They didn’t follow social distancing and could all be seen standing very closely talking to each other.

"The RNLI and Coastguard advice is to not do water sports during lockdown. Every passer-by stopped and took photos and the general consensus was that they were doing the wrong thing taking part in an extreme sport when we are in a lockdown state and with pressured NHS and Emergency services."

Advice issued by the RNLI also warns against going in or on the sea.

A spokesman said: "While you are allowed out for daily exercise, we do not recommend that this exercise is on or in the sea. Our charity’s lifeboat service is still available but every time a lifeboat crew is called to an incident, it puts additional pressure on RNLI volunteers and other front line emergency services as well as potentially exposing them to COVID-19."

Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI, said: "We know people who live at the coast still want to exercise by the sea, but when you do this, please think of the potential impact of your actions on RNLI lifeboat volunteers and other emergency services.

"While you could be fully competent and never needed to be rescued, by going out on the water you could encourage others who are less proficient to take part in similar activities.

‘Since lockdown was introduced around the UK coast, our lifeboats have been called out all too often to rescue people."

A spokesman for Dorset Police added: "You should not be driving to the beach to go surfing. The RNLI has stated that as there are no lifeguards on our region’s beaches it is not recommended that you exercise in the sea.

"Our emergency services are already stretched and should a lifeboat crew be called to an incident in the water, it would put unnecessary pressure on our volunteers and other front line services being exposed to COVID-19 (coronavirus).

"For these reasons, we do not recommend that people go surfing."