TWO people hunting wildfowl in Poole Harbour had to be rescued by lifeboats when their camouflaged boat started to sink.

Poole lifeboats were alerted at 6.15pm last night and started a search for the two people and their dog.

Crews made their way to the Wareham end of the harbour and discovered the casualties between Rockley and Giggers Island after a search in pitch darkness.

The casualties were spotted due to a head torch that one of them was wearing.

The two people were lying in water on top of the vessel and the dog was safe in the bow.

A spokesman for Poole lifeboats said the two people were very cold and had been in the water for some time.

The lifeboat took the casualties to Rockley Park, where Poole Coastguard rescue team were standing by and an ambulance had also been requested. The lifeboat volunteers transferred the casualties and their dog across to the care of the coastguards.

The wildfowler's boat was towed to shore at Rockley.

Both lifeboats returned back to station, refuelled and were ready for service by 8.30pm.

Volunteer helm Jonathan Clark said: "They were lucky that they had a dry phone to call for help. It was pitch black and they were extremely cold by the time we got to them. It was good to get them both and their dog safely ashore."