Portland coastguards helped the ambulance service on two incidents yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon Portland Maritime Rescue Coordination centre on Weymouth Harbourside received a call reporting that Milly, a golden labrador, was stranded on the Mudeford Spit, Christchurch.

Milly was helped to safety by a local boat and safely returned to her owner.

Just before 3pm coastguards received a call from the 35ft yacht, Force 7, which had engine trouble outside the entrance to Weymouth Harbour. Coastguards sent out a broadcast for any ships in the area to give assistance and sail training vessel Challenger 3 came to the rescue and towed the stricken yacht to harbour.

At 4.30pm ambulance crews requested help from the coastguards following a report of a male in the water with a head injury. Portland coastguard helicopter and Lulworth coastguards were sent to assist but on scene paramedics assessed the casualty's injuries and found he did not require immediate evacuation by air and all units were stood down.

Just after 8pm Portland coastguard helicopter was tasked to help the ambulance service airlift a seriously ill child to Dorset County Hospital.

The 11-year-old boy was part of a party down from London and the helicopter was called to the football pitches at Swanage. Coastguards also attended to supervise the landing site.

The initial report from the ambulance service was that the boy was not breathing but he showed signs of improvement in the helicopter and was breathing normally.