There has been widespread support for the Gazette's campaign.

“We are lucky enough to live in an area where outstanding natural beauty is just a short ride from most people’s doors.

The coastline is a superb feature of our environment, which can be enjoyed in all of its moods, but the sands can harbour danger and 300 emergency call-outs in the past year tell their own story.

I endorse The Westmorland Gazette’s Safety on the Sands initiative, which will raise people’s awareness of the hidden hazards, and help to save lives.”

John Woodcock MP

“I think it is important that people know and understand the dangers of the sands because that many people go out who do not know, and end up getting stuck. We are lucky to have the excellent Ulverston Inshore Rescue Team based in the town, which was set up after a father and son drowned at Bardsea. Visitors just do not realise how dangerous it really is, so I wholly support the campaign.”

Helen Irving, deputy mayor of Ulverston

“I thoroughly endorse the campaign - it’s fantastic and hopefully will save lives. We are fortunate that we do not see so many incidents in Grange because of the grass by the sands, but I did see a rescue in Arnside a year ago. The couple that were rescued had 200 to 300 yards of dry sand around them and within minutes it had changed. It looks so inviting. You can walk out for a couple of miles but it changes quickly and people need to realise that.”

Tom Harvey, chairman of Grange town council

“Even after the last two weeks people are still going out walking dogs on the sands thinking the warnings do not apply to them or they know better, so I think the campaign is a fantastic idea. It is what is needed to raise awareness and even if it stops just a few people from going out there in the next month that could be lives that are saved.

Liz McGonagle, owner of the Little Shop Arnside

“I am backing this campaign because the sands are so much more dangerous than they look. People tend to have respect for the mountains because they understand they are potentially dangerous as much as they are beautiful. The sands appear, and often are most of the time, benign but they change without warning and with immense force and the possibility of unsuspecting walkers being caught in life-threatening situations is much greater than people imagine.

Tim Farron MP

“There are signs out there and I do not know how people miss them. Just this afternoon we have had lots of people sat on the benches outside and the tide came in suddenly and they did not know what was going on. We are in a good position to do that here on the shore. Any kind of warning is a good thing so I think this campaign is a fantastic idea.

Gareth Lymer, manager of The Albion pub, Arnside