A rescue mission was carried out to search for a swimmer who was reported missing.

The call was made on Saturday afternoon (Saturday, August 25), after a husband swimming at West Bay noticed his wife hadn't exited the water.

Coastguard from West Bay were then alerted by Solent Coastguard National Maritime Operations Centre at 12.33pm.

Rescue officers from West Bay including the teams SO (Station Officer) and DSO (Deputy Station Officer) quickly made their way to the station, picked up their equipment and vehicle, then headed for Burton Bradstock cliffs.

Backup was requested from Lyme Regis at 12.35pm and the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat was also launched.

Both the West Bay RNLI Lifeguards and the NCI lookout station at Hive Beach were alerted and checked their areas for the missing swimmer.

A spokesman for West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team said: “The West Bay officers scanned the area from a vantage point on Burton cliffs as the lifeboat was carrying out shoreline searches but unfortunately neither could locate the swimmer.

“As a coastguard rescue helicopter was being scrambled to join the search, word came through that thankfully the swimmer had been found safe and well on dry land, having exited the water earlier than planned.”

Crews then returned to their stations.