Two British holidaymakers, a five-year old girl and her 66 year old grandfather, have drowned on a beach in Portugal after being pulled into the sea by a large wave.

Lara Lewis and Brian O’Dwyer were on holiday with the girl’s parents and grandmother in the tourist resort of Nazaré, 60 miles north of Lisbon.

It is thought that the grandparents took their granddaughter for a stroll on the beach while the girl’s parents were sunbathing, but they may have strolled beyond the safety zone being patrolled by lifeguards.

Local fishermen pulled all three out of the water but only the woman survived.