Three teenagers airlifted to hospital from Tywyn beach

Three teenagers have been airlifted to hospital after getting into difficulty in the water off the coast of Gwynedd.

North Wales Police, the Welsh Ambulance Service and coastguard were called to the slipway at Tywyn North just before 14:00 BST on Tuesday.

A rapid response paramedic, emergency ambulance, air ambulance and coastguard search and rescue helicopter were sent to the scene.

The three - two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old - were part of a family group.

A spokesman for HM Coastguard said it "had been coordinating a rescue in north Wales after three people got into difficulty in the water".

He added: "All three casualties were airlifted to hospital."

Aberdyfi lifeboat also carried out an off-shore search of the area.

Paul Davies, manager of the Victorian Slipway pub on the seafront, said he ran out to find out what was going on when he heard "a lot of screaming".

He said: "I haven't seen anything like that before on the seafront, it was dreadful.

"I've grown up here and... they used to have red flags [to warn people of danger] but for the past few years no red flags have been flying.

"We always knew when the red flag was flying that nobody was to go swimming in the sea."

Mr Davies said he did not think the current signs on the seafront, warning that there is no lifeguard service, were enough.