CONCERNS were raised over the safety of a man sighted on cliffs near Lyme Regis.

Lyme Regis lifeboat was launched at around 7.20pm on Saturday after it was reported that the man was scrambling up cliffs, apparently to avoid a high tide.

Coastguards on the shore and the volunteer lifeboat crew searched an area east of Lyme Regis but found no trace of the man.

The lifeboat returned to Lyme Regis harbour at 8.30pm, a spokesman for the RNLI said.

"The incident was recorded as a false alarm with good intent," they added.