A review is under way on whether to deploy lifeguards next year at a popular beach where five young friends died during a day trip to the coast.

More than 8,000 people have now signed a petition calling for lifeguards to man Camber Sands during the busy summer months.

Rother District Council said all options were being considered, including providing a lifeguard service, but a decision has not yet been reached.

A council spokesman said: "In light of recent tragic events and the changing profile of visitors to the beach, we are in the process of reviewing and considering all options for next year, including the provision of a lifeguard service.

"A decision has yet to be made."

Following the tragedy, the RNLI provided a temporary lifeguard team at Camber Sands and handed out safety information to beach-goers.

An RNLI spokesman said: "We have been talking to Rother District Council but no lifeguard service has been agreed for 2017."

Some local residents said money raised through car parking charges at Camber should fund lifeguards throughout the summer.

The call follows the deaths in August of Kenugen Saththiyanathan, 18, known as Ken, and his brother Kobikanthan Saththiyanathan, 22, known as Kobi, both of Normandy Way, Erith, south-east London, and their friends Nitharsan Ravi, 22, of Admaston Road, Plumstead, south-east London, Inthushan Sriskantharasa, 23, of Chadwell Road, Grays, Essex, and Gurushanth Srithavarajah, 27, of Elsa Road, Welling, south-east London.

Relatives of some of the men criticised the lack of lifeguards and suggested they may have stood a chance of survival if the beach had been manned.

Despite there being no lifeguards, Rother District Council bosses have said summer patrols advise people of potential dangers.

And they pointed out that Camber has attracted people from outside the area unfamiliar with the sea and the dangers it poses.