A British man and his son were swept to their deaths off the Spanish coast after they paused at some seaside rocks for a family holiday snap.

The victims have been named as Symon Howlett, 32, from Shropshire and his five-year-old son Jay.

It is reported that Mr Howlett had been taking photographs of his two sons sitting on the rocks when the children were knocked into the sea by a 3m wave.

Mr Howlett saved the elder son, nine-year-old Thomas, but died during a failed attempt to save Jay.

The accident occurred yesterday morning near Tossa de Mar in north-eastern Spain, according to press reports.