POOLE lifeboat volunteers have received their first call out from their new floating boathouse.

On Sunday, volunteers received reports of two kayakers in trouble a mile east of the East Hook buoy off Sandbanks beach.

The two kayakers had set off from Swanage to paddle to Christchurch, and after falling in a few times due to choppy conditions, they raised the alarm for assistance.

A border force patrol vessel and a RIB helped the casualties from the water, taking the kayaks on-board, as the lifeboat made its way to the scene.

Once on scene the lifeboat went alongside and transferred two crew on board who checked them over with an ambulance requested to attend.

The kayakers were the transferred across onto the lifeboat and taken to North Haven steps to the awaiting ambulance being passed into the care of the paramedics.

Volunteer helmsman Alex Evans said: “Conditions out there were quite rough and there was just a bit too much swell, it is advisable to check the weather and sea conditions before embarking on any voyage and have the means to call for assistance as the kayakers did today.”

Alex added: “The boat launched smoothly today from its new home, though we were taken aback when we arrived, to see all the motorbikes and the spectators who shared our maiden launch, it added to the pressure, but all went well.”