Six young people put their lives in danger ‘catching’ Pokémon near Birnbeck Island in Weston-super-Mare last night (Thursday).

The lifeboat crew was paged at 8.53pm after reports of a group of youths who had been cut off by the tide.

The tide was coming in rapidly and the crew made their way around to the low water launch area.

The lifeboat crew spotted two people wading back across the shingle bank and scrambling their way back to shore towards the waiting Coastguard team.

The RNLI then spotted four more youths walking along Birnbeck Pier’s dangerous walkway.

It emerged they were playing the Pokémon Go game.

Chris Lyons, RNLI crew member, said: “It is great to see people getting out and about enjoying themselves.

“However, putting your life in danger trying to catch Pokémon is extremely irresponsible.

“In Weston the tide comes in so quickly in seconds you can be in life-threatening danger.

“I would like to say please if you do see a Pokémon either on the rocks or in the muddy areas of Weston bay, don’t put yourself into a position where you could become stuck.

“The water is unforgiving, it doesn’t give you a second chance whereas a game will.”

A Weston Coastguard spokesman added: “The youths were extremely lucky to escape unharmed, and we urge people not to risk their lives for the game.”