RNLI volunteers rescued a man from the sea off Swanage in the early hours of this morning.

Crews were paged shortly before midnight to reports of a missing person from the area.

They joined police and coastguard officers in a search on land and sea, while the NPAS helicopter aided the hunt from the air.

Becky Mack of the Swanage RNLI said: "Crews were asked to go to Dancing Ledge, and both lifeboats were launched within 10 minutes of the initial page.

"The person was found around 100 metres off shore and taken to hospital to be checked over."

The casualty – Swanage a man in his 40s - was picked up by paramedics at North Haven.

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service said: "We received a call at around 12am reporting that a casualty was in the water.

"The coastguard attended and the casualty was brought out having sustained a head injury. The casualty was then transferred to Poole Hospital by ambulance."

Police officers received calls reporting a ‘concern for welfare’ at 10.13pm on Sunday night.

A spokesperson from the force said: “The man was found in the water at Dancing Ledge just after midnight. He was taken to Poole Hospital for treatment. His condition is not life threatening.”