It is the second rescue in three days on the sands where 20 cocklers died in February after being cut off by the tide.

The workers, believed to be local, were among a group of 10 reported to be in trouble at 1030 BST on Tuesday after a tractor broke down.

The Morecambe lifeboat and hovercraft lifted them to safety.

Incoming tide

The other cocklers at risk of being stranded on Tuesday managed to get to shore unaided to avoid the incoming tide.

Twenty Chinese cockle pickers were drowned on the same coastline in February when they were cut off by the tide.

Officers from Lancashire Police travelled to China last Wednesday to continue their checks on the identities of those who died.