TWO paragliders had to be hauled up a cliff to safety after landing on a remote beach on the Jurassic Coast.

Coastguards had no option but to winch the pair up a cliff as the beach was so inaccessible.

Coastguard teams from Wyke (Weymouth), Kimmeridge and Lulworth were involved in Saturday's rescue at Middle Bottom, between Bat's Head and White Nothe, while the Weymouth inshore lifeboat stood by at sea as a precaution.

The operation was hailed for its 'outstanding team work' by rescue units.

A spokesman for Wyke Coastguard said: "The full team were alerted shortly after 3pm. We were tasked to assist Weymouth inshore lifeboat locate a paraglider who had landed on an inaccessible beach to the east of White Nothe.

"Once the lifeboat arrived on the scene, they quickly assessed the situation and discovered two paragliders, fortunately not injured on the shoreline under steep cliffs. With a heavy swell it was declared unsafe for an extraction by sea.

"With only three of the Wyke team responding, more rescue officers were tasked from Kimmeridge and Lulworth after a mechanical problem with their vehicle had been resolved.

"A technical rescue was undertaken at Middle Bottom and both casualties were recovered, along with their equipment, to the cliff top by one of our rope rescue technicians."

The spokesman added: "This tasking demonstrated some outstanding team work involving three teams who cover a large part of the Jurassic Coast.

"Middle Bottom is a very remote part of the coast and is hard to access even by 4x4.

"Apologies to the landowners whose locks we had to bolt crop to gain access to their land.

"Also thanks to Weymouth inshore lifeboat crew who remained on scene until the successful outcome of the operation."

Weymouth RNLI spokesman Ken Francis said: "Once on scene it was established that the paragliders were safe and well.

"It was decided by the volunteer lifeboat crew that due to the two metre surf and underwater rocks it was not safe for them to get to the beach and that the best way of rescue would be by means of a cliff rescue team.

"A combined coastguard rescue team from Wyke, Lulworth and Kimmeridge rescued the uninjured paragliders from the beach up the cliff face to safety.

"The inshore lifeboat stood by just off of the beach during the rescue and returned to station at approx 6.30pm."