A FEMALE climber in her twenties has been seriously injured after falling about 40ft from cliffs near Anvil Point, Swanage.

The woman, who was in a group with other climbers, suffered head and leg injuries in the incident.

She fell onto a rocky ledge below from near the top of the cliffs.

The climber was airlifted to Southampton hospital by coastguard helicopter.

The incident happened at 3.30pm at the Cattle Troughs, between Anvil Point and the Western Mile Markers.

Emergency services immediately attended the scene.

Dorset Police, Swanage coastguard team, the St Alban's coastguard team and both Swanage RNLI lifeboats were involved in the rescue.

Footage from the RNLI 

A spokesperson for Swanage RNLI told the Echo last night: “We were tasked to the rescue of a fallen climber. “She fell onto a rocky ledge. Access was quite difficult.

“Two crew were brought ashore by the inshore lifeboat to assess and treat the casualty.”

The woman's injuries are not believed to be life threatening, but Purbeck police officers said she sustained significant trauma.

The operation was concluded at 7.30pm.