Some staff were verbally abused and even physically threatened by some members of the public while they tried to give out safety advice.

Now lifeguards will be able to call in security guards for assistance.

Penwith District Council beach manager Phil Drew said they were taking the matter very seriously.

"We can, of course, call the police and we will do that on all occasions as well," he said.

"But the police priorities sometimes lie elsewhere and so they tend to be slower to react to beach situations.

"A security firm can turn up, take names and addresses as they are police trained, and I am hoping the council will then decide to take these cases to court and get these people fined."