COASTGUARDS helped to rescue walkers, kayakers and investigated a washed up chemical drum.

At 2.30pm on Thursday Portland Bill coastguard rescue officers were sent to investigate a report of a chemical drum on the shoreline near Portland Bill.

Coastguards located the object and discovered it was in fact a container of engine oil. Coastguards informed Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, who arranged for it to be removed. The coastguards were stood down.

Just before 3pm Portland coastguards were called by the ambulance service to help them get an injured person to a waiting ambulance.

The casualty had an ankle injury at Durdle Door and Lulworth coastguard rescue officers assisted to get the casualty to the ambulance.

At 3pm coastguards were called by kayakers on the west side of Portland, who were concern as they had seen a bicycle down the cliff and a possible associated body.

Portland coastguard helicopter was sent and once on scene found the bike had been there a while and the body was actually a pile of rubbish.

At 6pm Lulworth Coastguard Rescue Officers were sent to investigate, after they received a 999 call from a member of the public reporting a sheep in difficulties on the cliff at Man O War Cove, Durdle Door.

The coastguards went to the area and found the farmer who said he was confident that the sheep would be able to make its own way back to the field and he would check this in the morning.

Coastguards were stood down once the prospect of any person endangering themselves to help the sheep had passed.