As I was passing the time at Mudeford Quay the other day, a group of Scouts of varying ages, I would guess around 10 or 11 years old, were handed crab lines by their leader and set about crab fishing. After watching for a while my husband and I became very concerned that they had gone sea side of the barrier, also that there was an amount of seaweed on the edge that had washed up making it quite slippery and the children were squeezing past each other, some with rucksacks on their backs.

Knowing how dangerous the strong currents in the run are and becoming increasingly concerned about the children’s safety, my husband left the car and politely voiced our concerns about the children’s safety, which were received with some disdain by the leader and the comment to the children “don’t fall in”. They carried on with fishing, and the leader made no effort to bring them back to the safe side of the barrier.

I have nothing against crab fishing – my own children and now my grandchildren love doing it – but please, anyone in charge of children, please be aware of the dangers at Mudeford Run.

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