A FISHING boat sparked an alert after its VHF radio broke in just one incident during a busy weekend for coastguards.

The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter was launched to find the whelk trawler, Tracy, which had not been seen or been in contact for anyone for three hours.

The boat and two people aboard were found safely at anchor shortly after the search begun on the morning of Saturday, May 24.

As well as the helicopter, RNLI lifeboats from Lyme Regis and Weymouth, the West Bay Harbour launch, the Warship Severn and West Bay and Wyke Regis Coastguard Officers had been preparing to search for the vessel, which was off Abbotsbury.

Elsewhere a man had a lucky escape after nearly being cut off by the tide under Stone Barrow.

Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue Officers investigated reports that a man had been spotted at around 4.30pm on Sunday, May 25.

The man was escorted to safety just in time and said he had been unaware of the danger.

A group of people were also given safety advice by coastguards after they were spotted climbing onto a landslip near Charmouth.

Portland Coastguard received a 999 call at around 3.20pm on Sunday.