LIFEGUARDS are warning people to keep safe on the coast after a woman was injured near Charmouth.

Two people and their dog were rescued by lifeboat crew after being cut off by the tide in west Dorset.

Shortly after 6pm on Sunday (27) night, Andy Heath, 33, and his girlfriend Kaylee Wilson, 29, from Royston in Hertfordshire, and their Jack Russell dog called Smudge, were cut off by high tide as they were walking near Charmouth.

Kaylee had got her right leg stuck knee-high in mud, and was having difficulty dislodging it.

The RNLI from Lyme Regis launched to the incident, and lifeboat helmsman Martin Croad picked up extra crew members in order to hold the vessel steady while he beached the boat to help the couple aboard. 

They managed to clamber aboard before being taken back to the station at Lyme Regis harbour.

Mr Croad has advised visitors to take advantage of local knowledge and always check the tide times when walking along the coast.

He said: "Everyone visiting our marvellous coastline should enjoy the experience but also be aware of the risks.

"Checking the tide times is very important wherever you are. But anyone visiting Charmouth, for example, should pop into the excellent visitors' centre and ask about the tide times and any other problems they might encounter during a walk.

"The coastline here can change from day to day because of landslips, so that where walking would have been quite safe on a Tuesday, by Wednesday it may have become dangerous.

"Asking local folk, such as those at the visitors' centre, is a very good idea - particularly for people coming to the area for the first time." 

Andy paid his thanks to the RNLI for coming to his rescue.

He said: “We were enjoying a walk with the dog when we realised we were in trouble.

“We were getting cold and were very pleased when help arrived.”

The incident was dealt with shortly after 8pm.