TWO men were rescued by lifeboat crew after becoming trapped on rocks near Lyme Regis.

RNLI volunteers were called out at just after 9.30pm last night (Sunday).

John Allan, 67, and David Dolling, 64, both from Corringham in Essex, got into difficulty while on a mapping exercise at Humble Point, to the west of Lyme Regis.

The two men tried to make their way across the rocky coastline towards Pinhay. But when they reached Seven Rock Point in darkness, they realised they could safely go no further, and called the coastguard.

The RNLI crew had to initially return to the harbour to pick up extra members to steady the vessel because of the rocks and shallow water.

Crew members Tom Crabbe and Andrew Rice swam ashore to assist the two stranded men.

Mr Allan, a retired businessman, and Mr Dolling, a former police officer, were wet, tired, but otherwise unhurt. The lifeboat crew brought the two men to the lifeboat station where they were given blankets and hot drinks.

Speaking after the incident, Mr Allan said: “We were so pleased to see the lifeboat crew.

“We underestimated the time it would take us to walk back and just had to call for help. Sometimes you simply don’t realise how old you are until you get into this sort of situation.”