Lifebelt inspections begin on Douglas promenade

Every lifebelt on Douglas promenade is to be inspected once a month for safety reasons, the borough council has said.

The news comes after a review which was prompted by a police officer who jumped into the water to rescue someone after two lifebelts went missing.

The number of buoyancy aids will also be halved, with 14 of them being placed at regular intervals between the War Memorial and the Sea Terminal.

People are being reminded not to tamper with potentially lifesaving equipment.

The council also said lifebelts would no longer be positioned along the stretch of the promenade from the War Memorial to Summerland.

This decision was taken after experts told the council the gradient of the beach was insufficient for them to be required.