Four dogs and 18 people had to be rescued from the sea when a boat capsized and they were cut off by the tide.

Volunteers from Blackpool's Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), were called out just after 4pm on Sunday and spent two hours responding to six different incidents.

In what was a busy afternoon for the lifeboat crews, 18 people and four dogs were helped back to shore after a boat capsized and others were cut off by the tide.

A spokesperson for the RNLI said: "It’s been an incredibly busy afternoon for our amazing RNLI volunteers who launched shortly after 4pm and then spent two hours at sea responding to six separate incidents, including people cut off by the tide and a capsized boat.

"They have provided assistance to 18 people and four dogs."

The incidents occurred as hundreds flocked to Lancashire's beaches to enjoy the warm weather and sunshine, with temperatures reaching the mid twenties.

It follows the tragic incident on Sunday morning when a man from Blackburn died after the boat he was on sank off the coast of Fleetwood.

A major search operation was launched at 8am to locate the man, but his body was found in the water by the RNLI.

Police say two men, one aged 71 and from Accrington and the other aged 70 from Blackburn, who were also on the boat survived the ordeal.