COASTGUARDS at the beach where a five-year-old Worcester girl sank into mud and died, launched a safety campaign at the spot just hours before the tragedy.

The news emerged late yesterday, two days after Lelaina Hall, of Oldbury Park Primary School, St John's, lost her fight for life following the accident in Somerset.

"We were asking people to take notice of signs on Berrow beach which give warnings and instructions," said Ivor Davies, watch officer at Swansea Coastguards.

"We get problems from time to time, but it's usually with cars stuck in mud."

Coastguards patrolled the beach on Saturday afternoon, handing out leaflets to holidaymakers urging them to read warning notices.

"When the tide comes in, it does so very quickly and people really need to take care and read the warning notices," he added.

Tragedy struck the day before the Hall family was due to check out of the Sandyglade Caravan Park in Berrow, near Weston-super-Mare, following a three-day trip.

Park owner Jenny Davies has now issued guests with a safety leaflet and Peter Yardley, headmaster of nearby Berrow Primary School, pledged to stage a special assembly in memory of Lelaina.

Sedgemoor District Council, which manages the beach, has launched a full investigation.

"We're terribly sorry to hear about the tragedy and offer our condolences to the family," said Coun John Lamb.

"It's early days for the investigation and we're still getting information from the coastguard."

"There are more than 100 entry points to the seven miles of sand and we will look at the positioning of signs to make people more aware of the dangers," he added.

He revealed that no wardens were required to patrol the area, but, on Sunday, three were on duty. Police are still investigating the incident.

n Miss Jackie Ludlow, head teacher at Oldbury Park Primary School, in St John's, said today: "Our school will be doing something.

"We are going to wait to see what parents want".