FIVE climbers were rescued from cliffs near Swanage by the coastguard last night.

Both of the Swanage RNLI lifeboats and the coastguard rescue teams from Swanage and St Albans were requested to attend at 7.30pm on Wednesday evening.

The five climbers were stuck on the base of the cliffs at Guillemot Ledge, which is east of Dancing Ledge and the rescue teams spent four hours bringing them all to safety.

A spokesperson for the Swanage Coastguard posted on their blog to say: "The sea conditions were rough but the crew of the RNLI inshore lifeboat managed to get ashore and confirmed the climbers were okay.

"Due to the sea conditions it was considered safer to recover the climbers using the coastguard teams.

"The location is a difficult cliff area but two Coastguard Rescue Officers descended the cliffs and started the technically demanding rescue, recovering one climber at a time."

The spokesperson said that each climber was checked over as they were recovered to the top of the cliff before the coastguard took them back to their vehicles having offered some safety advice and ensure that they were all safe and well.

Volunteer lifeboat crew member Becky Mack said: ‘The conditions were challenging which choppy seas and a large rolling swell.  

"We had to carefully navigate the cliffs with the aid of spotlights to find the safest locations to put the volunteer crew members ashore and to recover them.

"As the rescue progressed the sea state deteriorated, but thankfully the casualties and crew members who were ashore were well clear of the waterline."

A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: "We’re aware that abseiling is a very popular pastime along the coastline. Our advice about coastal activities like this remains the same.

"We want people to enjoy the coast but return safely, so they should make sure that they have checked weather conditions, that they have all the correct equipment, that they have told someone where they are going and what time they are likely to return. 

"Also they should make sure that they have at least one means of communication, and that it is fully charged. 

"We also know that even the best laid plans can go wrong so if somebody does find themselves in difficulty or see someone else having problems, then call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."