PARENTS have been issued advice when visiting Southend after the coastguard launched a search for a missing eight-year-old on the seafront this afternoon.

Coastguard officers and Southend Council's community safety officers launched a search this afternoon after the child was reported missing by their parents on Marine Parade.

The mother of the child then made themselves known to officers as their child had returned safely to them after going off to play in the sand with other children a short distance away.

The coastguard has issued the following safety advice to families visiting the city:

1. Take a selfie of your family when arriving at the beach, as this can be used by search teams if your child goes missing.

2. Agree a safe place to reunite if any of your family wanders off and goes missing.

3. You can order wrist bands online to place on your child if visiting somewhere new, having a phone number of the parent written on them will quickly help reunite a missing child.

4. Check if the Pier and Foreshore at the pier entrance reception have wristbands to hand out.

A spokesman for the coastguard in Southend said: "Above all look out for each other and your loved ones, especially children when on the beach near water.

"Please share our safety advice, please share across communities outside of our local areas for the many visitors that visit from outside the City of Southend."