COASTGUARDS and lifeboat crew rescued three people cut off by the tide as night fell.

At 10.43pm yesterday evening, the whole Wyke Regis coastguard team was called to reports of three people cut off by the tide close to Sandsfoot Castle.

Weymouth’s inshore lifeboat was sent to try and find them and rescue them.

The coastguard team managed to call the people on their mobile and let them know the rescue plan.

Using the mobile phone’s light as a marker, the people managed to signal to the lifeboat, who then came to meet them.

A spokesman for Wyke Regis Coastguard Rescue Team said: “The inshore lifeboat managed to find safe passage in and confirmed the extraction of all three casualties who were safe and well.

“The duty rescue team then met the casualties at Weymouth harbour where their details were taken and safety advice regarding tides was passed on.”