Rescuers tried in vain to save this stranded vehicle from the fast-incoming tide on Burnham-on-Sea beach.

The van's wheels had become stuck in soft sand and mud near the town's jetty, prompting a call-out for rescue charity BARB, Burnham Area Rescue Boat.

Crew members used a tractor, winches and ropes to try to tow the vehicle to safety, but they were unable to pull it fully free and the vehicle was quickly submerged by the tide.

A man who was inside the van managed to scramble free through a passenger window.

"The vehicle, which was being used to take away a jet ski, was later recovered from the beach using BARB's tractor after the high tide at around 9.30pm," said BARB chairman Mark Newman.

"Fortunately no-one was injured in this incident, which again serves as a reminder about the dangerous nature of mud and fast incoming tides along this stretch of coastline."

The incident on Sunday comes after a series of rescues in recent weeks.

A stranded 4x4 was lost on Brean beach on May 10. Another was pulled out of the mud by BARB at nearby Berrow on May 9.

In April, a boat and trailer were towed to safety by BARB on Brean beach and in March, a car was lost to the incoming tide at Brean. In February, a quad bike was successfully rescued from mud on Burnham-on-Sea beach.

BARB is a 16 year-old registered charity that has helped and rescued more than 200 people. The organisation is run entirely by volunteers.