Neighbours in Market Drayton, today told of their devastation over the deaths of Symon Howlett and his five-year-old son Jay, drowned off the the coast of Spain.

Alannah Purslow said: “I have known Symon and Deborah for a very long time and they were a lovely couple. The little boys always play outside the house here. It is all very sad. Symon was a fun-loving man and lived for his children. It’s terrible.”

Another neighbour said: “I heard what happened on the news and it will come as a real shock to the neighbours.

“They were a quiet family and kept themselves to themselves.”

Locals have described the weather at the time of the tragedy as “red flag-type conditions”.

A hotel worker, who did not want to be named, said weather conditions just minutes before the incident were “pretty stormy”, adding the waves were about “two to three metres high”.

He said: “I drove by in my van about 15 minutes before it happened and saw them playing on the rocks by the water.”

Sarah McInerney, administrator of website www.tossacostabrava.com told how Mr Howlett and his younger son were caught in the “overpowering undercurrent and were swept away”.

She said: “Immediately the alarm was raised a professional diver arrived on the scene, but despite several desperate attempts, the force of the waves was just too strong and prevented him from entering the water to attempt a rescue.”

A police spokesman confirmed that the family had been taking photographs just before the incident happened.

He said: “Following the incident, the mother reported it and firemen, coastguards and police were called to the scene. The two bodies were rescued from the sea at around 12 o’clock yesterday, midday. We are speaking to witnesses at the moment and wish to speak to the mother when she feels able to.”

Police would not say whether any warning signs would be put in place to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The Centre for Maritime Rescue Co-ordination in Barcelona said the British family appeared to have been passing through the area.

A hotel receptionist at the Tossa Beach Hotel, where the family had been staying since Sunday, confirmed Deborah Howlett remained at the hotel.

She visited the British consulate in Barcelona yesterday and has also been consulting a psychologist.

By John Kirk and Andrew Rogers

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