A kitesurfer and a windsurfer were both rescued after getting into difficulties near Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth on Sunday.

Coastguard and lifeboat crews took to the water around 1pm yesterday afternoon after a member of the public reported a kitesurfer who had been spotted waving for help.

On route to the kitesurfer, the volunteer crew of the lifeboat came across a windsurfer with a broken rig who had apparently been on his way out to help the kitesurfer before getting into difficulties himself.

The lifeboat crew took the windsurfer on board and continued to search for the kitesurfer.

He had drifted a 'considerable distance' from his first reported position after becoming detached from his kite, and ended up around 500 metres from the beach at Bowleaze.

Officers found the man after a 'brief search'. Both he and the windsurfer were taken back to the beach at Bowleze to be met by the team.

His kitesurfing rig was eventually found a mile out at sea by the lifeboat crew, who returned it to him before heading back to the station at 2.30pm.

A spokesperson for Weymouth Lifeboat said: "The RNLI would always encourage members of the public who see anyone in trouble on the sea to dial 999 and ask for the coastguard, giving as much information as they can about what and where they have seen it."