A community is in shock after a woman died and a man was left critically ill after reportedly trying to rescue their pet dog from the sea in Thornton-Cleveleys.

Lancashire Police said the pair had got into difficulty after going into the water at Rossall Beach "to rescue their dog, who had become stuck" just after 20:30 BST on Saturday, but the woman, in her 60s, died later in hospital.

"It's tragic," said Caroline Scott, 55, who works at a bar and restaurant on Cleveleys Promenade.

She added: "It's devastating to hear it is so upsetting."

Scott described the scene as she left The Venue, a bar and restaurant complex, across the road from the beach after work at about 21:00 BST that day.

"I just saw a load of police cars, coastguards, the lights flashing on and off, people on the beach.

"You could see there was a lot of commotion going off. I weren't sure at this point what was happening myself."

She added: "It's tragic what's happened oh God yes it really is but it does happen, like say, all the time.

"People do think they can save the dogs and nine out of 10 times the dogs come out but it's just a normal natural reaction because it's your fur babies.

"People do anything for the dogs."

She said police later came to the bar where the manager had a dog scanner to identify the animal and its owners.

Dog owner Philip Furnivall, 70, who regularly takes his own pet for a walk on the beach said: "If people aren't aware of what's happening on the coast they do go in after a dog.

"My dog goes out there every day and is quite capable of looking after herself."

He added: "Do not go in after your dog. It's worst thing you can do. The waves out there are so strong there's undercurrents, my dog can swim, she swims every day and she's used to it, so please don't."

Lancashire Police said the man also in his 60s, remains critical in hospital and enquiries to identify the dead woman's next of kin were "ongoing."

Two coastguard officers who carried out the rescue were also taken to hospital as a precaution after ingesting sea water, it said.

Blackpool RNLI, North West Ambulance Service and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service also attended.

The weekend incident came just after the 21st anniversary of the death of two local students Oliver Harvey and Alex Kazmir Yorke both aged 16 who drowned after being swept out to sea on 28 May 2005 at Gynn Square, Blackpool trying to rescue a dog.

On 5 January 1983 three police officers PCs Angela Bradley, 24, Gordon Connolly, 23, and Colin Morrison, 38, drowned in Blackpool trying to save holiday maker Alistair Anthony, 25, who had entered the water at Gynn Square to save his Jack Russell dog. Both dog and owner perished.

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