A father and his two children were saved by heroic passersby after they got marooned on rocks in choppy waters off the Cornish coast over the bank holiday weekend.

The holidaymakers were trapped by the rising tide near a harbour wall in Newquay, a popular tourist hotspot, yesterday evening.

The family of three became stuck on the rocks while trying to get to a beach before the waves started crashing around them.

Fortunately, a quick-thinking onlooker, named locally as Matt Sherring, managed to pull them to safety using a rope and a flotation ring.

Footage of the dramatic rescue shows how he and another man made their way onto a ridge below the wall and threw the ring to the struggling family.

A family of three was saved by heroic passersby after they got marooned on rocks in choppy waters off the Cornish coast

The dad and his two children became stuck on the rocks while trying to get to a beach before the waves started crashing around them

Mr Sherring, who lives locally, then successfully pulled the family to safety with the help of the other man.

An RNLI lifeboat filled with crew can be seen bobbing nearby, with its crew monitoring the situation as the men pulled the family back to shore. 

The group managed to clamber onto the wall and get to the stairs even as big waves crashed against the wall, knocking one person back into the water. 

The dramatic rescue happened yesterday at 5pm as holidaymakers were enjoying their bank holiday in the coastal town.

Staff at Milk Coffee shop witnessed the rescue, and shared video of it on their Instagram.

'Local hero Matt Sherring saves the day. Be careful with the tides guys it creeps in super quick.'

The 'local hero' managed to pull the family back to shore by flinging a flotation ring to them

Rising tides elsewhere in the UK also got beachgoers into trouble, with rescuers in the northwest saying they had to assist dozens who were cut off.

More than 50 people were led to safety over the bank holiday after becoming cut off by the tide at Morecambe Bay, rescuers have said.

The incoming tide quickly surrounded a family, which included a baby in a buggy and two toddlers.

Gary Parsons, commanding officer of Bay Search and Rescue, warned people to check tide times and leave plenty of time to get off the sand.

More than 50 people were led to safety over the bank holiday after becoming cut off by the tide at Morecambe Bay, rescuers have said. File image shows Silverdale in Lancs

He also cautioned people to be wary of quicksand on the beach, which he said is currently 'the worst I have ever seen it' in the 35 years he has been stationed there.

'My biggest fear is if somebody gets stuck in quicksand with the tide coming in,' he said.

'Please be careful, the Bay can be one of the most beautiful but dangerous places in the world so treat it with respect as it bites,'