A councillor has backed calls for further safety signs along the coast after a teenager from Ashford had to be rescued after being swept into the sea.

Sophie Wright, 16, was pulled from the water by her stepfather Russ Lewis, dog walker Michael Johnson and another man when she was walking with her family at Dymchurch last month.

She was helped by onlookers who brought blankets and warm clothing after her ordeal, which was just yards away from where nine-year-old Connor McDonald fell in the sea and died in October last year.

Sophie’s rescue prompted safety fears because none of the men in the sea could see where the nearest lifebuoy was from the lower sea wall.

Mr Johnson said: “The sea was very rough and there were no lifebuoys.

“I think it’s strange when you spend millions of pounds on sea defences, something like that should be put there.

“A lifebuoy would allow people standing on the promenade to pull people out of the water, or in the worst case scenario at least keep people afloat until a lifeboat arrives.

“I think incidents like this do happen and this time we nearly had another tragedy, so how many people would have to die before something is done?”

There are three lifebuoys in Dymchurch which are signposted from the shore with red signs, but from the beach they are not clearly visible.

The Environment Agency is responsible for putting up new signs on the beach side of the sea wall, but a spokesman said the agency would need to be instructed to do so by Shepway District Council.

Dymchurch Parish Council chairman Cllr Roger Wilkins said the issue will be discussed by the council and put to Shepway.

He said: “I would support signs on the other side of the sea wall to say that there are lifebuoys there.

“We have meetings with the Environment Agency at the end of every month so we will probably bring it up with them.

“We will as Dymchurch Parish Council write to Shepway to request stating where our lifebuoys are. We are definitely in favour.”