A MAN has been taken to hospital after suffering head and back injuries near Lulworth Cove this afternoon.

Coastguards said the man fell and injured himself while at Stair Hole.

They added that because the area is 'inaccessible' and 'steep', essentially below a cliff, he had to be winched to safety by the Coastguard rescue helicopter.

The helicopter then landed in a field at the top of the cliff, where the man could be transferred to the waiting air ambulance and flown to hospital.

South Western Ambulance Service said they were called at 3.29pm and undertook a multi-agency response involving the coastguard, to rescue the man.  They confirmed an air ambulance, an ambulance, a rapid-response vehicle and an operations officer attended the scene.