A rescue operation was launched after two climbers got into difficulty on the Jurassic coast.

Coastguard and lifeboat teams rescued the two men after one became stuck at the bottom of cliffs at a popular climbing spot.

According to a spokesman from the coastguard, the man's buddy - who was at the top of the cliff - had tried various methods to rescue him, but was unsuccessful.

"In the end he decided seek help and used the yellow 999 phone attached to the lighthouse to speak directly to HM Coastguard", they said.

"This telephone has no dial - on activation it rings immediately at the HM Coastguard National Maritime Operations Centre."

A team from Swanage coastguard along with colleagues from St Albans were called to the scene, at Boulder Ruckle.

Soon after arrival they met up with the climber's buddy at the top of the cliff, having

carried rope rescue equipment along the coast path.

A coastguard cliff technician was sent over the cliff's edge to get sight of the man, but by this point it was dark.

Unable to see the casualty and his surrounding terrain clearly, the Swanage lifeboat was called to provide illumination and advice from below to help the team find the best route to rescue the man.

"Once on scene, it became clear that the casualty was much nearer the water's edge than first thought", the spokesman said.

"It was agreed that the climber should be rescued from his position on a ledge at sea level onto the inshore lifeboat."

After the lifeboat arrived, the coastguard team monitored the situation while the second climber collected the pair's equipment and made his way back to the cliff top.

When everyone was accounted for, the pair were reunited with each other.

The coastguard team returned to station shortly before midnight.