A SEARCH was launched last night after windsurfing equipment was found at Sandbanks.

Coastguard officers, both Poole RNLI lifeboats and the helicopter was launched to search the area for the owners of the equipment.

The equipment included a white 3.5m long sail board with an orange, blue and clear 5.7m sail.

A spokesperson for Poole Coastguard said they were called last night to the washed up windsurf board.

"A hasty search about 500m in each direction was conducted but with nothing found.

"Our concern was for the persons life as it could be that they were still in the sea."

The coastguard helicopter from Lee-on-Solent and both the lifeboats from Poole searched the area from the sea while the coastguard teams started searching the beach and inland areas in more detail, he added.

Local sailing schools were also contacted, with enquiries also made at a local hotel.

It turned out the equipment belonged to a watersports centre nearby, with the person who had used the board forgetting to put it away at the end of the day.

The spokesperson added:"Please, if you are going into the sea mark your equipment with your name and a contact number in case this should ever happen to you."