COASTGUARDS warned that people were lucky to be alive after several rescues in the Bridport and Lyme area.

Lyme lifeboat was called out to help the cabin cruiser Jozilee, which was in danger of breaking its mooring outside of the harbour.

The skipper was transferred to the vessel from the lifeboat and it was moored inside the harbour in a safer position.

Lyme Coastguard Rescue Team and the Weymouth sector manager also helped firefighters with the evacuation of flooded properties at Charmouth.

They also warned people to keep away from landslips near Lyme, Eype, West Bay and Charmouth.

The coastguard helicopter winched two people from the roof of their car at Litton Cheney after it was swept along by flood water.

They were taken aboard at 10.15am on Saturday and flown to Portland before being helped home by coastguard officers.

Firefighters, police and coastguard officers were also called to the scene.

The helicopter was also scrambled to rescue a man with chest pains at West Bexington at 4.30pm on Saturday as his home was cut off by flood water.

The aircraft landed in a field behind the house and paramedics were eventually able to reach him and he was taken to hospital by ambulance.

The helicopter was also sent to the River Brit, near the Palmers brewery in South Street in Bridport where it was feared two women were trapped in the rising waters.

West Bay Coastguards also attended the scene at 3.05pm as the pair were rescued and taken to shore safe and well.

West Bay Coastguards and the helicopter were also called to the River Brit in South Street near the Palmers brewery where two people were in danger of being swept away.

A spokesman said: “They were tasked to two females trapped in the rising waters of the River Brit at Bridport. “They were retasked when the females were recovered safe and well.”

West Bay coastguard rescue officers were called out after West Bay RNLI Lifeguards reported a person in the water in the harbour.

They found that the man had been separated from his kayak and had been swept through the sluice gate into the harbour and was extremely lucky to be alive, but was otherwise unharmed.

They said that he was given plenty of safety advice.

Sports events cancelled

THE Charmouth Challenge and Fun Run due to be held on Saturday, July 7 was called off.

Organiser Nick Bale pulled the plug on the popular fundraiser amid safety fears.

Mr Bale said: “I am hugely disappointed.

“It raises an awful lot of money for the school.”

Mr Bale hopes to re-schedule the event for later this year.