A family who became trapped on a beach and had to be dramatically plucked to safety have thanked the teams who came to their rescue.

The four family members and their two dogs became cut off by the tide in darkness and in poor weather on the Jurassic Coast as they went for a new year walk exploring the shore near Lyme Regis.

With heavy seas making any sea or land-based rescue impossible the family - who scrambled up onto a cliff ledge to escape the fierce incoming tide - ended up being airlifted to safety by a coastguard helicopter.

The rescue on Sunday has prompted a warning to people thinking of exploring the coast to plan their trip and check weather and tide times before setting out. Recent landslides near Lyme has 'dramatically reduced' the size of some beaches so this can be hazardous, especially during the high spring tides.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

File picture of Monmouth Beach looking west     Picture: Neil Mattingly

The family who were rescued, Harry, Beverley, Chris and Susie, visiting from Buckinghamshire, were very wet, cold and muddy after their ordeal and warmed up in Lyme Regis Lifeboat Station.

Susie said: "Thank you for everything your extremely kind and courageous staff did for us and so sorry to have dragged you all out at risk to yourselves. Thank you from all of us."

The group got caught out by the tide west of Lyme Regis between the end of Monmouth Beach and Pinhay Bay. They were split up in two groups when they became trapped.

The town's coastguard rescue team and lifeboat crew were called out around 5pm after the family raised the alarm. A coastguard team from Beer in Devon was also scrambled.

The lifeboat was unable to reach them due to the heavy sea state and coastguard teams couldn't get to them as they said the waves had already reached the base of the cliffs with the tide still coming in.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

Lyme Regis Lifeboat in rough seas                         Picture: John Cable

Coastguards managed to speak to the group, who confirmed that they were safe as they had managed to reach a cliff ledge. They were told not to attempt to climb the mud shale cliffs above them and to sit tight.

A spokesman for Lyme Regis Lifeboat Station said: A helicopter was requested; the nearest available was a coastguard helicopter from Newquay.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

"The helicopter, a Sikorsky S-92 search and rescue aircraft (pictured above at Monmouth Beach - credit Lyme Regis Coastguard) winched the first individual with Finzi the springer spaniel. The helicopter then travelled 500 metres west to the couple with their son and Billie the beagle. Once they were winched to safety the helicopter landed on Monmouth beach (where coastguards had set up a landing site). The casualties then went to the lifeboat station to warm up and recover."

The lifeboat volunteers returned to Lyme Regis harbour at 7pm.

Lifeboat Helm Seb Cope said: “The beach along the coast either side of Lyme Regis and further afield has suffered from isolated landslips that naturally reduces the available beach, particularly when we have spring tides as the tidal range is increased.

"Our advice would be to take care when walking along the coast, check tide times and allow for plenty of time. If you see someone or you are in trouble along the coast, call 999 and ask for the coastguard."