Strong winds hampered the family's return journey

Rescuers said the children and their father, who were from Manchester, were spotted out at sea off Puffin Island on the east coast of Anglesey, on Sunday morning.

The family, which included twins, a boy and girl aged 12, an 11-year-old girl, and a boy aged nine - had used the bike to travel the seven miles from Conwy.

Some of the children rode on the vehicle with their father, while the others were in a rubber doughnut being pulled behind.

However, as the winds rose to Force 7 and tides began to gather strength, they found the journey back was too difficult and had to turn back to the island.

A passer-by spotted the family in difficulty in the water and alerted Holyhead coastguard.

It was not an appropriate journey to make. They were very lucky Holyhead coastguard

A Sea King helicopter from RAF Valley, Anglesey - which had been out on a training exercise - airlifted the children from the island in the Menai Straits.

A spokesman for the crew said they soon warmed up once aboard the aircraft. They were taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor where they were said to be recovering well.

The father sailed back to Conwy alone on the bike, and is understood to have been given safety advice from coastguard staff, who said the incident had given him "quite a fright".

He has since said he is planning to sell the bike. It is understood that no action will be taken against him.

Wetsuits

A spokesperson for the coastguard said the family had not prepared properly for the trip.

"They were wearing three-quarter length wetsuits - summer ones really - and only had two lifejackets," she said.

"It was not an appropriate journey to make. They were very lucky.

"If you are planning a trip, make sure you take the right precautions and always take life jackets.

"Plan what you are doing, take appropriate equipment, and use your common sense".

Watch Officer Hugh Donnelly said: "They went too far out, and the weather conditions were not too good, with force seven winds.

"They managed to make their way under their own steam to Puffin Island, which was probably a sensible course of action - but they were not too sensible to go out in those conditions."