A LATE-NIGHT search was launched in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a woman went missing on the coast.

Coastguard officials and police were called over concerns that the woman was at risk.

A search then took place on what has been described as "one of the wettest, windiest nights for weeks".

The woman was later found and is being cared for.

A spokesperson from Dorset Police said officers were called just after midnight.

"We received a call reporting a concern for the welfare of a woman in the Swanage area," the spokesperson said.

"We attended and carried out a search of the area with assistance from the coastguard."

An official from the Swanage Coastguard said volunteers carried out an 'extensive search in difficult conditions'.

"Liaising with the police and calling our colleagues for St Albans for back-up, one one of the wettest, windiest nights for weeks, the team soon put a plan ib place to cover the ground.

"The area from Peveril Point to the chalk stack north of Sheps Hollow was divided up and searched while another team walked the path from Sheps Hollow to the top of Ballard."

Officials used a 4x4 to search the area from Old Harry Rocks to the Obelisk above Ulwell.

"It was kept there for quick response in case the individual should suddenly appear at the cliff top threatening harm," the spokesperson said.

"After a couple of hours, and the beaches and beach huts thoroughly checked, we started to move the search further south and cover the area from Peveril Point towards Durlston."

However, the woman then made a call from Durlston. She was found by police just before 2am and is being given 'the appropriate care'.