AN exhausted climber had to be rescued from the Purbeck coast on Saturday afternoon.

Swanage RNLI's D-Class inshore lifeboat was called to assist, alongside volunteers from local coastguard cliff rescue teams.

The incident took place to the west of Anvil Point, near Swanage, around 4.20pm.

A Swanage RNLI spokesman said: "The climber had become cold and tired and was unable to climb back up the cliff.

"The volunteers from Swanage and St Albans Head Coastguard cliff rescue teams were already on scene but they requested lifeboat support to give an option to lower the casualty down to the water rather than pulling him up the cliff.

"The lifeboat launched and was soon on scene."

After arriving the crew stood by as the cliff rescue teams set up their equipment.

At this point the climber was about six metres above sea level

The spokesman said: "It was decided that the easiest way to recover the casualty was going to be to pull him up the cliff so the inshore lifeboat stood by until this was done.

"Once everyone was safely back at the cliff top the lifeboat was released to return to station."