COASTGUARDS are warning about the dangers of quicksand after four people were rescued over the weekend on the Merseyside coast.

A woman got stuck in mud at Crosby on Saturday and her children raised the alarm.

Later that evening three people became stranded off Southport pier when they got stuck knee deep in quicksand.

In both cases the tide was coming in -- coastguards say all four had a lucky escape and want people to be aware of the dangers.