RESCUERS were out in Weymouth early this morning searching for a man believed to be in the sea.

Police, the NPAS helicopter, paramedics, Weymouth inshore lifeboat and a coastguard team joined the search on Weymouth Beach and seafront.

There were concerns for the man's welfare following reports he had walked into the sea.

Wyke Coastguard and the lifeboat crew were alerted around 5.45am this morning.

A major search was conducted for about an hour but nothing was found.

Dorset Police said enquiries are continuing into the incident. 

A Weymouth RNLI spokesman said: "Weymouth RNLI inshore lifeboat was launched to reports from the Coastguard via the ambulance service that a person was in the water off Weymouth seafront.

"Wyke Coastguards, ambulance, police and the police helicopter were also tasked.

"Due to the height of the tide, the helm of the lifeboat requested that the boarding boat also join in the search.

"An area from the Pleasure Pier to the Greenhill groyne was searched. With nothing found all assets were stood down."

A statement from Wyke Coastguard Rescue Team said:"The full team were paged at 5:45am and asked to proceed to the Sea Life Tower, Weymouth.

"Dorset Police had been alerted to a situation where a casualty had been seen entering the water and was believed still in the water.

"Upon arrival at the scene the Wyke officer in charge liaised with Dorset Police and ambulance service and proceeded to designate resources to search immediate, and outlying areas of the casualty's last known location.

"Due to the shallow water, Weymouth ILB was then joined by the lifeboat boarding boat and conducted sweeping searches from the Pleasure Pier, to the groyne at Greenhill, then retraced their steps.

"The NPAS helicopter attended and conducted an infra-red search around be probable area of detection, making their way to secondary areas of interest.

"The Wyke team split into separate search groups, conducting shoreline searches from the Pleasure Pier, to the groyne at Greenhill, also retracing their steps multiple times.

"Shortly after 7am all teams reported their findings to the NMOC. As no evidence could be found of a casualty in the water, or on the beach, all teams were asked to stand down and return to their respective bases."