A MAN was airlifted to hospital after suffering a severe allergic reaction.

Coastguard officials and RNLI volunteers were called to Chapman's Pool in Purbeck on Sunday afternoon.

The lifeboat crew had to leave the annual Swanage civic service midway through after their pagers sounded just after 3.20pm.

A spokesperson from the team said those attending the service had just sang the first hymn.

"A 40-year-old male with a severe allergic reaction and low blood pressure needed to be extracted as soon as possible to the hospital," the crewman said.

"Coastguard officials were on scene but had concerns regarding a helicopter landing in the confines of Chapman's Pool due to the state of the tide.

"The coastguard decided to have the lifeboats on standby."

However, as the tide went out the helicopter could land, and the casualty was taken aboard and flown to hospital.