A five-year-old girl died after becoming trapped on mud flats on the Somerset coast.

The youngster was walking with her father when they got into difficulties and were spotted more than a mile from the shore by a beach warden.

They were taken to Weston General Hospital, after being rescued by coastguards and an RAF Sea King helicopter.

Coastguards have issued a warning about the dangers of taking coastal walks without finding out about potential hazards.

The father and daughter were airlifted to hospital

The girl, who has not been named, died after being treated in intensive care.

Her father's condition was described earlier on Sunday as "comfortable".

Inspector Mike Anderson, of Avon and Somerset Police, has appealed for any witnesses to the "tragic" incident to contact police.

The girl and her father, from Worcester, had been walking on mud flats at Burnham-on-Sea near Weston-super-Mare.

Dangers

The child was spotted floating in a channel by the crew of the Sea King at 1400 BST on Sunday.

She was winched aboard and taken with her father to Weston General Hospital.

Coastguards at Swansea sent the rescue teams after seeing the pair more than a mile away from the shore.

John Sibley: The area is extremely dangerous

John Sibley, of Swansea Coastguard, said the man was spotted first and the girl seen "two or three minutes later".

He described the area as "extremely dangerous" with mud that was very shallow.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman advised people to find out more about the area they visit from the local coastguard.

"We would call on everyone to make sure they gain local knowledge before going out," she said.

"People can get caught out because they do not realise the dangers.

"It may look safe but you have to think of the risks."