A LARGE fight broke out between revellers on boats during a beer festival in Studland this weekend.

Swanage Coastguard Rescue Team were patrolling the area from 7pm while the Bankes Arms Beer Festival took place.

The team received reports of a fight involving 15 people on two boats just off South Beach. They were threatening to “sink each other’s boats”, according to a spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard agency.

Police were called to help deal with the incident.

“Coastguard teams risk assess their areas and deploy patrols to reduce risks, especially if there is an event in the area,” wrote a Swanage coastguard spokesperson on the team’s blog.

“For the second night running the team headed out to an event at Studland that, in past years, has seen some serious maritime incidents.

“At 7pm the team headed out, and it wasn't long before it was reported there was some serious fighting going on aboard some boats at South Beach.

“On arrival it had calmed down but the team remained around to ensure people were going back to their boats safely.”

Another fight started on a boat, which was resolved before the arrival of police.

“The boats parted company and were monitored back to Poole due to their behaviour,” the spokesperson added.

A Dorset Police spokesperson confirmed they had received reports of an “altercation” but “no parties made themselves known”.