A CHINESE lantern burning on a beach was mistaken for red distress flares last week.

At 10.39pm on Tuesday (October 8), Rhyl RNLI's inshore lifeboat was tasked to search the area off Kinmel Bay and Pensarn following reports of red distress flares just off the beach.

The inshore lifeboat launched at 10.46pm and headed to Kinmel Bay to being a shoreline search west, towards Pensarn.

While the inshore lifeboat was searching, the crew at the lifeboat station spotted what appeared to be a Chinese lantern burning on the beach near one of the caravan parks.

Rhyl Coastguard Rescue Team was also tasked to search the beach and meet with the first informants.

After a search of the area, all units were stood down and returned to station.

Coxswain Martin Jones said: "This was a false alarm with good intent. The members of the public did the right thing calling the Coastguard to inform them of what they have spotted.

“We would say to anyone using lanterns, please bear in mind where you use them.

“They could cause damage wherever they land, or they can be mistaken for distress flares if used near the coast.”