A couple were rescued after their speedboat took on water.

Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat volunteer crew was called to assist a man and his girlfriend in their 30s after their plans for a barbecue and night camping on the beach didn't go to plan.

The crew was contacted after the man raised the alarm with his mobile phone around 10.30pm on Friday evening, after the couple's 14 foot speedboat was swamped by waves and holed on rocks at Charlton Bay, west of Lyme Regis.

The speedboat's skipper, who did not want to be named, said: "We both tried for about two hours to get the water out of the boat, but in the end it was a write-off and I had to call for the lifeboat.

"We had set up the barbecue, but I am afraid we never got anything to eat.
"We were very relieved to see the lifeboat crew who did a great job."

The couple were taken to safety from the beach by the lifeboat crew, who also pumped out the speedboat and towed it into Lyme Regis Harbour at 11.45pm.