These dramatic new pictures show two women rescued after being cut off by the tide.

They had to scramble onto higher rocks as the fast-moving tide cut them off at St Margaret's Bay.

Then a Dover RNLI dinghy picked them up and brought them safely onto the beach.

Amateur photographer Joel Whitaker captured these moments and the RNLI has now put out warnings about coastal dangers as summertime approaches.

The two South Africans, in their 20s, had to be rescued from the top of rocks beneath the cliffs on the Dover corner of St Margaret’s Bay shortly after 2pm last Saturday.

They had been staying at a local hotel and decided to walk along the cliffs, setting off from St Margaret’s Bay.

But they were not aware of the fast-rising spring tide and were cut off, having to clamber to safety on to higher rocks.

Dover RNLI, supported by coastguards, launched a rescue, picking them up in a dinghy.

Figures show a constant rise in rescues by Dover RNLI, increasing from 29 in 2012 to 80 last year.

This was the first rising tide rescue in the area in 2017, and the lifeboat crews fear more people could end up in danger as summer approaches.

Dover lifeboat station spokesman Ed Baker said: “Usually it is tourists we have to rescue because they are not familiar with the area or the working of the tides, coastline and other dangers.

“The risks rise as people come out during better weather and it was particularly good on the day of the incident involving the two women.

“We would also ask those running guest houses and hotels to give tourists advice, to share their local knowledge.”

Mr Baker added: “The water temperature at this time of year is still 10C or 11C, so there was a risk of cold water shock if the women were immersed.

“At the highest point the tidewater would have gone up to their waists. If it wasn’t a flat, calm day they could have been swept off the rocks into the sea.

“Thankfully they were still an hour from the tide reaching the high water mark.

"But the 36 people we rescued in one day last year had much less time and there was the added problem of trying to find them in darkness.”

The saving of this London Jewish group, cut off by the tide at Langdon Bay on June 6, was Dover RNLI’s single biggest mission of 2016.

This effort had also involved others, such as Walmer RNLI and the coastguards.

Last year was the busiest year for lifeboat launches since 2011.

Launches to people in the water went up by 25% from 2015 to 2016 in the British Isles.

In the South East the figure rose 13%. In Kent there were 486 launches.

Dover RNLI rescued 80 people last year, compared with 48 in 2015, 37 in 2014, 35 in 2013, and 29 in 2012.

Mr Baker said: “It’s possible this is due to an increase in tourism, but the figure was pushed up artificially high because of saving those 36 Londoners in one day.”

Slips, trips and falls are the most common but the RNLI have also had to help swimmers in trouble or those going into the water to rescue their dogs.

Mr Baker said: “Out of the 190 who die each year in the UK and Ireland, more than half didn’t even expect to get wet.”

Dover RNLI advises people to:

n Check tides times before setting off to avoid being cut off.

n Do not put yourself in danger to try to save others or pets.

n Keep your dogs on leads.

n Always have a means of calling for help, such as a phone.