THE mother of an eight-year-old boy who drowned has won powerful support for a lifeguard to be reinstated on the beach where he died.

The Mayor of Hartlepool, Stuart Drummond, yesterday told Hartlepool Borough Council it was essential that a lifeguard be on duty at Seaton Carew beach, even if it meant increasing council tax.

Jordan Moon's mother, June Wharam, 48, has vowed to keep up the pressure, and last night sent a letter to the mayor detailing the circumstances of her son's death.

Jordan was swept away by an 8ft wave while paddling with his cousins on the beach in August.

Since then, hundreds of Hartlepool residents have signed petitions and written letters demanding the re-instatement of the lifeguard service, which was withdrawn in 2001.

Mr Drummond brought up the issue of the lifeguards at a cabinet meeting called to discuss next year's council tax rate.

He said: "Bringing back the lifeguard is essential. We simply need to do it. There is this figure we have all heard that it would cost £50,000 a year, but it is likely that it would cost a lot more than that. Judging by the letters, petitions and what people have told me, it is something that the town really wants."

Responding to Mr Drummond's call, Mrs Wharam said: "The town is really in uproar about this and the council must understand that. People cannot understand how an essential service like this can be withdrawn and they waste money on things which are not as important.

"I am pleased the mayor, who did write to me after the accident, appears to want this too, but I will keep pushing the issue on behalf of everyone who uses that beach.

"I think people would support lifeguards being put on the beach, even if it came from the council tax. You cannot put a price on a life."

Later, the mayor told the council that the lifeguard service could not be reinstated with only a 4.5 per cent increase in council tax, which some cabinet members favoured.

But he argued that the council would have to consider an 8.9 per cent increase in the coming year to prevent a serious reduction in other essential services and redundancies.

No decision will be taken until next year