A DIVER has been airlifted by the Portland Coastguard rescue helicopter after making a rapid ascent off Portland.

Coastguards were alerted at around 9.50am this morning.

A rapid ascent diver came into difficulty to the south of Shambles Bank and taken to the decompression chamber in Poole.

A spokesman for Portland Coastguard said: "The diver is at the chamber and his condition is unknown."