My late parents' bungalow is in a village called Hest Bank - just north of Lancaster - on the shores of Morecambe Bay. Just of that stretch of coast is where the Chinese cockle pickers drowned some years ago.

Morecambe Bay and its sands and scenery (Langdale mountains in the background) is a beautiful place, but the sands are deadly dangerous. I've walked across it many times in years gone by - under the watchful eye of the official guide, of course - and noted the differences between solid sand and fatal quicksand. The other factor is the fast flowing tide, which can quickly surround you and prevent a return to the shore, and the "bore" which - like the Severn bore - sweeps in about a metre in height and around 30 mph. You can't stand up against that.

A lesser, and more amusing spectacle (at least to the cynical) is at Bosham village in Chichester harbour, not far from me. Visitors will park their car on the shore next to the road; they will ignore the tide warnings - and they will come back to their car to find it in 3 feet of water! Many's the time I've been walking back to the car park to see a rueful motorist with his car halfway up the slipway, doors open, and water pouring out.