PEOPLE are being urged to take care near Dorset’s coastal cliffs after a pair of climbers had to be rescued when they became stranded near Ringstead Bay.

Shortly after 10pm on Saturday, Wyke Coastguard received reports of two people stuck on cliffs around Ringstead Bay and the White Nothe area, east of Weymouth.

The Lulworth Coastguard Rescue Team was also paged as the exact location of the two climbers could not be ascertained through speaking to them.

The two climbers told coastguards that they had attempted to climb from the beach area to the cliff top, but due to failing light they had become stuck and were completely unaware of their position.

A spokesman for the Wyke Coastguard Rescue Team said: “Upon arrival at Ringstead, the two coastguard teams split up and conducted an immediate cliff top search in an effort to locate the climbers.

“The climbers could be reached by mobile phone and indicated to the team when they could hear the Maritime Rescue Unit sirens.

“Further searches revealed that the casualties were stuck approximately half way between Ringstead car park and the White Nothe, around 30 metres below the cliff top.”

Once their location was determined the two teams set up an indirect cliff top rescue due to the restricted working area at the cliff edge.

One member of the rescue team then descended down to the two climbers and secured them in one after the other for rescue.

The climbers were checked over for any injuries after being safely bought to the cliff top.

Both coastguard teams were stood down at 1am on Sunday, May 24.

Now, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council has urged people to stay safe near the coast.

A borough council spokesman said: “The sea comes in and out twice a day and it is possible to get cut off by the incoming tide or forced up against the cliffs.”

The council is urging people to follow this safety advice:

• Do not take unnecessary risks, stay away from the edge of the cliff top

• Stay away from the base of cliffs: rock falls can happen at any time

• Do not walk or climb over landslide or rock fall debris, especially during and after wet weather as it is easy to get stuck in mud and quicksand

• Always pay attention to warning signs; they are there to advise you on how to stay safe

• Keep dogs on leads when walking on cliff-top coast paths

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