WALKERS are being urged to take extra care after two people got stuck in mud and a further four people became trapped by the tide yesterday near Old Harry Rocks.

With another very low tide expected this evening, members of the public are being urged to stay safe.

Dorset Police were called around 6pm on Saturday by a member of a group who 'was panicking because he and his group of friends were lost and becoming cut off by a rising tide' near Old Harry.

A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "The coastguard dealing with the foreign national, connected the call to a language interpreter as well. This enabled a series of thorough questions to be received and translated so that the location of the group could be identified."

RNLI teams from Swanage and Poole carried out a search between Poole and Durlston Head to find them.

The group had become stuck on the landslip near to Old Harry having walked there at the very low tide.

They were found in the fading light beneath the scree from Ballard Down in water rising up to their chests.

They were taken by Swanage Inshore lifeboat and transferred to the Poole's all weather lifeboat which was standing by.

Described as "wet, cold and oblivious of the danger that they had faced", the group were checked out by volunteers and taken back to shore where an ambulance was waiting.

The Coastguard spokesman said another low tide is expected on Sunday and advised people not to walk to Old Harry.

He said: “We remind people to take care and not put themselves or others at risk.

“In a coastal emergency dial 999 and ask for Coastguard.”

Poole volunteer lifeboat coxswain Jonathan Clark added: “We are experiencing very extreme spring tides and low waters at the moment due to the spring equinox and areas of the foreshore are being exposed.

“This weekend it has been the biggest one of the year and though areas may seem accessible it is not a good idea. The people that we were tasked to on Saturday were extremely fortunate. If they had not been able to raise the alarm, then it would have been a totally different scenario. They were exceptionally lucky.”

He added: “It is not advisable to venture out onto the foreshore, it can be treacherous. At the moment the water is at its lowest in the evening. When it does flood back it does with vengeance, with potentially serious consequences, we would urge everyone to stay safe - it’s just not worth the risk.”

A female dog walker was also rescued after she became stuck in mud up to her knees at Whitecliff in Poole on Saturday.

At the same time a second operation was launched after a bait digger got stuck in mud at Jerry’s Point in Studland.

A team from Poole Coastguard and firefighters were called to the trapped dog walker in Whitecliff.

Witness Karen Leggett told the Echo on Saturday evening: "Whilst walking our dog at Whitecliff late this afternoon we saw a girl and her dog who were stuck in the mud.

"Fortunately she had a phone and had called the coastguards who promptly arrived, along with firemen and ambulance.

"They proceeded to put on their rescue gear and waded out with a raft to rescue the poor girl.

"She was quickly hoisted onto the raft and reeled back to shore. Fortunately she was fine and she declined medical attention."

A team from Swanage Coastguard and firefighters were then called to the incident at Jerry’s Point.

A spokesman from Swanage Coastguard said: “The Swanage team arrived and deployed their water rescue equipment however due to the thick mud were unable to get near to the trapped male.”

They requested the assistance of Poole RNLI. Using inflatable rafts the teams were able to reach the male, who was released from the mud and brought to the shore.

He was checked over by paramedics and released shortly afterwards.