A GRATEFUL Weymouth teenager has paid tribute to a team of coastguards who came to her rescue after a dare went horribly wrong.

Melissa Eryilmaz, 16, clambered on to some rocks below Portland Bill lighthouse on Sunday afternoon - only to find herself stranded 8ft below the cliff edge.

The Wey Valley schoolgirl said: "My youngest sister dared me to do it and I thought 'OK, I can do this'.

"But once I was down there I knew there was no way up and it was starting to rain and I panicked."

After several failed attempts to rescue her daughter, Melissa's mum Tracy raced to the lighthouse for assistance.

She said: "Melissa had been down there for 45 minutes, but the rescuers were there within five minutes.

"We were told we were lucky because the tide was low at the time."

Once Melissa was pulled to safety she was met by the sound of cheering from a group of onlookers. She said: "The rescuers were excellent. They kept me calm and asked me questions.

"I was a bit embarrassed about what I'd done, and I'd say to anyone else - just don't do anything like this."

Mum Tracy said she hopes 'lessons will be learned'. She added: "However tough you are, don't do it. Even the toughest person would have had trouble getting up there without a rope.

"Taking part in dares like this is dangerous.

"Something may look like fun but it's so easy to get trapped and find yourself in danger."