COASTGUARDS are warning people about the dangers of diving into the sea from rocks and cliffs on the Jurassic Coast after a man was injured.

The man suffered a head injury and is understood to have lost a lot of blood after plunging into the water and hitting his head on an underwater rock.

Coastguard rescue teams, as well as the ambulance service, were alerted to the incident near Portland Bill just after midday on Bank Holiday Monday.

Now, as the weather improves and people flock to the coast, rescuers are urging people in Dorset to be safe.

Rob Sansom, senior coastal operations officer for HM Coastguard in Dorset, has issued advice for people heading to the coast as the summer season approaches.

He said: "This person hadn't risk assessed and hadn't realised the water was as shallow as it was, which is one of the dangers of jumping.

"Generally, we don't want to spoil people's enjoyment, especially during the weather we're having at the moment. But when people are out and about they need to be aware of the dangers - there are plenty of safety signs around.

"Jumping into the water isn't completely safe, but it can be relatively safe if all risks are assessed properly."

Mr Sansom said, generally, people can stay safe near the coast by assessing the water and observing tide times, especially when walking under cliffs, as well as being aware of crumbling cliffs and hidden dangers such as undertow in the water.