These pictures – which appeared in The Visitor and Lancaster Guardian newspapers at the time – are a poignant reminder of the fateful evening of February 5, 2004.
![A cockle picker's rake lies abandoned on the sands at Hest Bank.](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjY5NDM3OTc0LWRlOTktNGRmZC04MTE1LWUxYzczZmJkZjhiODpjMTBhY2Y2ZC02MzVmLTRiNzgtOTJkYi04Zjk2M2E4MDQ3ZGY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
17. Morecambe cockling tragedy 20 years on
A cockle picker's rake lies abandoned on the sands at Hest Bank. Photo: Ian Robinson
![A cockle picker's net on the sands of Morecambe Bay at Hest Bank.](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU4YjU4NjYzLTE5ZTItNDk3NC1iZmI0LTNmMzI4ODJiZmQ1NTpiNWQyM2U4NC02ZTMxLTQ3MjMtYjljNi0wMmNiZDk2MmI1Zjc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
18. Morecambe cockling tragedy 20 years on
A cockle picker's net on the sands of Morecambe Bay at Hest Bank. Photo: Ian Robinson
![Cockle pickers back at work on Tuesday February 10, 2004.](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjBhMmQ0YzQ4LWRmODQtNDdmMy05NmI1LTM0MzdjNmUwMzkyOTo5Mjg5ZDM2YS1hOTZiLTQ1NDAtYTY0Ni1jNmQ5MGRhYmJlMDg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
19. Morecambe cockling tragedy 20 years on
Cockle pickers back at work on Tuesday February 10, 2004. Photo: Phil Noble
![Flowers tied to railings near the RNLI station in Morecambe following the tragedy.](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjgwMGY5YTBmLWMwNWItNGE4My04ZWIyLWNlYzUwNTE1ODQ0MToyZmYzM2QzZC1iODE2LTRhMWMtOWUyNS04NjU1ZTdjN2MwNDA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
20. Morecambe cockling tragedy 20 years on
Flowers tied to railings near the RNLI station in Morecambe following the tragedy. Photo: Lindsey North
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