THE death of an eight-year-old boy has prompted a review of safety at a North-East resort.

Jordan Moon died after being swept off his feet by waves at Seaton Carew beach, near Hartlepool, only metres from a disused lifeguard hut.

The alarm was raised by his mother and a rescue operation, involving lifeboat crews and an RAF helicopter, was launched.

Jordan was picked up, but never regained consciousness and was declared dead in hospital on Saturday.

The Northern Echo reported yesterday that lifeguards had been withdrawn from the beach by cash-strapped Hartlepool Borough Council in 2001 to save money.

But the tragedy has led lifeboatmen, councillors and a former lifeguard to step up their campaign to reinstate the service.

And yesterday the council pledged that the issue would be discussed at the highest level.

Simon Athey, a former lifeguard on the beach, has campaigned to have the service reinstated. He said: "There is no excuse now for lifeguards not being on that beach. I have been telling them for the last two years somebody was going to die soon. I hate to have been right."

Mr Athey said he was approached by council chiefs in June to run lifeguards at the beach during the summer. But he did not hear back after he asked for £9,500 to get the service up and running.

Mike Craddy, secretary to Hartlepool Lifeboat, said: "What price do the council put on life? We've had one tragedy. How many more before somebody takes notice?"

A spokesman for the council said it would redouble efforts to find a solution. "The lifeguard service was withdrawn along with some other council services due to severe budget pressures," he said.

"Since then we have continued to explore other funding options, including sponsorship.

"It certainly remains a high priority for the council."

Jordan's family was too distraught to comment.