A MAN clinging to 'impenetrable' undergrowth on a cliff face near West Bay was rescued by the coastguard helicopter and lifeboat crews.

Lyme Regis Coastguard team was tasked, together with colleagues from West Bay, to rescue a man who had climbed a cliff west of Seatown to escape the incoming ‘spring’ tide yesterday afternoon.

According to the coastguard he had become completely stuck 35 metres up the cliff in the impenetrable undergrowth.

Lyme Regis lifeboat was launched to help the coastguard teams better identify his location and to provide additional safety cover.

A spokesman for Lyme Regis Coastguard said: "Due to the inaccessible location, it was decided to ‘extract’ the casualty using Coastguard Rescue helicopter 175 which was training nearby.

"The aircrew quickly located the casualty and winched him to the safety of the cliff top.

"After a medical assessment of the casualty, he was escorted back to his car in Seatown. The weather this weekend is wet and windy. It coincides with very high ‘spring’ tides."