An elderly man was airlifted to safety by a coastguard helicopter after falling over on a path on the Jurassic Coast.

The man was walking near Durlston Country Park, Swanage, when he fell over and felt faint as a result.

Police and coastguards were called to the scene and helped to stabilise the man.

They were preparing to carry the man in a stretcher over difficult terrain to an ambulance when they learnt the ambulance may be delayed. The coastguard helicopter was scrambled to airlift the man and it was decided to take him to an ambulance, which had arrived at Anvil Point Lighthouse, so he could be assessed by paramedics.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "We were called at 12.20pm on Wednesday to an elderly man on the path.

"Officers attended and an ambulance crew was also called. We assisted the coastguard and the man was taken in the coastguard helicopter."

A spokesman for Swanage Coastguard said: "Rather than physically carry the gentleman a fair distance over tricky terrain the helicopter made a single wheel 'light' landing on the sloping hillside sufficient to quickly load the stretcher aboard, and the casualty was then flown the short distance to the ambulance."

The Dorset Police rib also assisted in the incident, helping with helicopter communications.