BOTH Poole RNLI lifeboats and the search and rescue helicopter from Portland were involved in a search for a person thought to be in the choppy waters near the entrance to Poole harbour.

The alert was raised at 12.30pm yesterday when a person was reported to enter the water near a groyne close to Haven Hotel.

The volunteer crew of the inshore and all-weather lifeboats swiftly arrived on the scene and carried out a thorough search. When nothing was found Portland Coastguard stood them down and they returned to station at 2.30pm.

Volunteer coxswain Jonathan Clark said the person was seen to enter the water but he was not seen to get out.

However that did not mean he did not emerge from the sea.

“With the wild weather we are experiencing and gusts of wind recorded up to 40 knots we urge people to stay away from the water’s edge. When the seas and water levels are high and unpredictable, stay safe and heed the warnings,” he said.