Patrolled beaches Tregonhawke and Sharrow in south east Cornwall Perranporth, North Fistral and Towan in the Newquay area Harlyn, Polzeath, Widemouth and Summerleaze in north Cornwall Bantham, south Devon Croyde and Woolcombe, north Devon

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeguards will patrol 12 beaches in the area from 1000 BST until 1800 BST.

More beaches will be added to the list when the full season starts on 19 May and during the peak season of the school summer holidays.

In 2006, RNLI lifeguards in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset helped 10,448 people.

This year, RNLI lifeguards will patrol 66 beaches across the South West and for the first time, there will also be RNLI lifeguards guarding five beaches in north Norfolk.

The RNLI is a registered charity, which aims to save lives at sea. It relies on voluntary contributions and legacies to ensure its lifeguards have the very best training and equipment.

During the winter break, lifeguards headed off to warmer climates as part of the RNLI's International Lifeguard Exchange Scheme between British, New Zealand and Australian lifeguards.

The scheme allowed lifeguards from different countries to exchange lifesaving knowledge and skills.