POOLE lifeboat station was the busiest RNLI station in Dorset last year, according to official figures.

Lifeboats were launched from Poole 97 times in 2016 and crews rescued 58 people, including saving the lives of four.

Last November Poole lost its all-weather lifeboat, which was replaced with a D-class inshore lifeboat following an earlier RNLI review.

Meanwhile, a new 25-knot Shannon Class all-weather lifeboat came into service at Swanage last April.

While 2016 saw the most lifeboat launches from Poole, its all-weather lifeboat launched 19 times - albeit from January until mid November - compared to 38 all-weather launches at Weymouth, for the whole of 2016, and 37 all-weather launches at Swanage for the same period.

Speaking after the release of the latest figures, Poole lifeboat volunteer Anne-Marie Clark said it was important to always have a means to call for help available.

She said: "I remember vividly four teenagers who had ventured out someone had told them that they could get the bus to Shell Bay and walk to Swanage, which you can over Ballard Down a lovely walk.

"But these guys took another route via the foreshore. They got cut off by the tide under the cliffs of Old Harry, non-swimmers with no means of scrabbling up the rocks.

"They each had a mobile as that was how they raised the alarm but by the time the lifeboat had found them, literally pin pricks in the water which by then was chest high and rising, with their backs to a cliff face.

"With the tide flooding back fast there was only one phone just about working; the others had died.

"By the grace of God or some other divine intervention the crew found them in the nick of time."

The RNLI also advises people to always let someone know where they are going and to wear a life jacket if venturing onto the water.

A spokesman said: "The Poole lifeboat crew are not killjoys, they just want people to be safe

If you are tempted for a dip, remember that water temperature is well below 10C.

"Cold water shock and hypothermia are very real dangers so we ask people to enjoy themselves but please respect the water."

BLOB

2016 RNLI launches in Dorset

Poole:

97 launches (19 all-weather lifeboat, 78 inshore lifeboat)

58 rescued

Four lives saved

540 hours at sea

42 services in the dark

Weymouth:

79 launches (38 all-weather lifeboat, 41 inshore lifeboat)

99 rescued

830 hours at sea

36 services in the dark

Swanage:

76 launches (37 all-weather lifeboat, 39 inshore lifeboat)

71 rescued

Two lives saved

596 hours at sea

27 services in the dark

Mudeford:

65 launches

92 rescued

274 hours at sea

20 services in the dark

Lyme Regis:

24 launches

20 rescued

Three lives saved

112 hours at sea

12 services in the dark