THE occupants of a car had to be rescued by the coastguard in the early hours, after the vehicle they were travelling in became partly submerged in water at Lymington.

A coastguard spokesman told the Echo the car had swerved to avoid a badger at the end of Tanners Lane, and ended up in marshland.

Coastguard officers, the RNLI and police were called to the scene, around 3.40am, after the occupants clambered onto the roof and raised the alarm.

A Hampshire Police spokesman confirmed: "We worked with the coastguard and they were taken to shore. No-one was injured."

The car was a Nissan Primera.