Clothes left on a beach sparked concerns and a call to rescuers.

Lyme Regis Lifeboat launched yesterday after a report from an onlooker that a swimmer could be in trouble in the sea off Charmouth.

The alarm call to coastguards followed the discovery of clothes on the beach. However, it was later established that the clothes belonged to a man safely swimming nearby and he needed no assistance.

Coastguards had requested the lifeboat crew to launch at 2.41pm and they were stood down some 20 minutes later.

This was the 41st call for help answered by the Lyme Regis volunteers so far this year and it was recorded as a false alarm with good intent.