Two people who put their lives at risk attempting to climb a cliff more than 100ft high sparked a major coastal alert.

The pair were spotted scrambling up a cliff face at Charmouth by a Coastguard team and preparations were made for a full cliff rescue.

The pair quickly made their way down after realising they had been seen and were given 'very stern safety advice' by the Coastguard team.

The cliffs on that stretch of coast are unstable with rockfalls and landslides happening frequently.

Read more: Stay away warning after Seaton cliff collapse

Read more: Dramatic cliff fall at West Bay caught on video

A spokesman for West Bay Coastguard said: "We conducted a high visibility patrol of the area paying particular attention to known incident hotspots.

"Whilst at Charmouth seafront, officers conducted a binocular search to the east and spotted an individual high on the cliff face, approximately 95 feet from the ground and around 20 feet from the cliff top.

"It was unclear whether the person had fallen over the edge of the cliff from above, or was climbing the cliff face from the beach below.

"Officers put an immediate radio message through to Solent Coastguard who started preparing to task a full cliff rescue response should it be required.

"Meanwhile, the officers quickly made their way on foot to the area to fully assess the situation and make contact with the person involved.

"Once closer, it was found that there were in fact two persons high on the cliff face and they appeared to be attempting to climb the cliffs from the beach below.

"Once they spotted the approaching officers, they quickly ceased their climbing attempt and returned back down to a place of safety.

"With the persons now back on the beach, Solent Coastguard was updated and very stern safety advice was issued as to the dangers involved, and the emergency response that was about to be tasked."

The team said Coastguard advice remains clear:

* Stay well away from the base of the cliffs and do not attempt to climb the cliffs for any reason

* Rockfalls and landslides can happen at any time and without warning, and you have to ask yourself… Why take the risk?

The incident happened on Sunday, April 11 - but the information has just been released by West Bay Coastguard as the team has not been posting about jobs they have responded over the past week. Her Majesty's Coastguard paid respects to the Queen and observed the official 8 days of national mourning for HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.