Weymouth RNLI inshore lifeboat was launched this afternoon (18) to reports of a inflatable boat in need.

The report came from the Coastguard and was of a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) aground at Middle Bottom Beach near the White Nothe.

When on scene at 4.40pm the volunteer lifeboat crew found that the RIB was already afloat.

It turned out that the two person crew had deliberately grounded the vessel on the beach for a bottom scrub and were not in any difficulty.

One of the two persons was still on the beach while the other was afloat with the RIB. So the Inshore lifeboat crew went into the beach and picked up the person ashore before transferring him onto the RIB.

The lifeboat then escorted the RIB as far as Portland Harbour where it had its berth, before returning back to Weymouth at 5.45pm to be refuelled and made ready for the next call.