RESCUE services were alerted after three people got into trouble in the sea off Lulworth Cove.

Weymouth RNLI all-weather and inshore lifeboats were launched at 4.35pm on Saturday after reports of people in difficulty.

On the way to the scene the Coastguard reported that the people who had got into difficulties while coasteering around the Lulworth Cove area were now ashore.

The all-weather lifeboat returned to station while the inshore lifeboat crew proceeded into the Cove to see if they could render any assistance.

On arrival at the beach inside Lulworth Cove the crew found that all of the three men, in spite of wearing wet suits and protective clothing were suffering from the cold.

One also had an injury to his ankle and bruising to his legs.

Volunteer crew member Alice Higgins, who like all RNLI lifeboat crew is a qualified first aider, helped a doctor to give assistance, including administering oxygen and pain relief, until the arrival of an ambulance.

Alice said that she would like to thank the staff of the Lulworth cafe who rallied round and provided hot drinks to all those who were there and needed warming up in the cold wind.

On arrival of the ambulance the inshore lifeboat was released and returned to station at around 6.15pm.