Burnham-on-Sea

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Burnham-on-Sea

Coordinates: 51.2376° N 2.9935° W
Population	18,401 (2001 census^[1])
OS grid reference	ST306492
Parish	Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge
District	Sedgemoor
Shire county	Somerset
Region	South West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BURNHAM-ON-SEA
Postcode district	TA8
Dial code	01278
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Bridgwater
European Parliament	South West England
List of places: UK • England • Somerset

The shortest pier in Britain on the sea front at Burnham-on-Sea.

Burnham-on-Sea is a town in Somerset, England, at the mouth of the River Parrett and Bridgwater Bay. The town is now a popular seaside resort, and is home to the shortest pier in Britain. Burnham remained a small village until the late 18th century. It forms part of the parish of Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge. According to the 2001 census the population of the town was 13,797.

Burnham-on-Sea is notable for its beach and mudflats, the danger they pose to individuals and shipping, and the efforts locals have gone to to defend their town and to prevent loss of life. The Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range in the world. The extensive mud flats at Burnham are characteristic of Bridgwater Bay and the rest of the Bristol Channel where the tide can recide for over mile and a half. Over the years a string of people have died when they became trapped in mud and were over come by the rapidly rising waters. One of the earliest recorded historical incidents to affect the town was the Bristol Channel Floods of 1607. Today the town is defended from flooding by a massive curved concrete wall that runs along the Esplanade.

The town's signature collection of lighthouses, including the Round Tower lighthouse of 1829, the Pillar Lighthouse^[2] and the Lighthouse on legs.^[3]

The official animal of Burnham-on-Sea is the Tree Frog. A local charity, Burnham-on-Sea Area Rescue Boat (BARB), was set up in 1992 to fund and operate rescue craft in the Bridgwater Bay area. The BARB boat house on Burnham sea front was built in 1994 by the Challenge Anneka TV show. In 2002 a five-year-old girl from Worcester called Lelaina Hall died on the mud flats before help could reach her. The outcry over her death prompted a Western Daily Press campaign to fund an inshore hovercraft.^[4] BARB currently operates the 'Spirit of Lelaina' alongside her sister hovercraft the 'Light of Elizabeth' (named after Lelaina's sister).^[5]

The parish church, St. Andrew's, is a grade I listed building dating from the 14th century.

In the southwest corner of Burnham-on-Sea, north of the River Brue, is Apex Leisure and Wildlife Park. Covering over 42 acres, the park has been created from excavated clay pits; these were flooded, and the lakes are now home to many types of wildlife and leisure activities.

The town is part of the West Country Carnival circuit.