AN INTENSIVE search has been carried out by RNLI volunteers after 'cries for help' were heard coming from the water.

Both Weymouth RNLI lifeboats were launched at 10pm last night after 'cries for help' were heard coming from the water near Portland Marina.

'Intensive' searches of the outer wall of the marina and around the yachts berthed in the marina were carried out.

A spokesman for Weymouth RNLI said: "Both Weymouth RNLI lifeboats were launched at 10pm on May 6 to carry out a search of the area around Portland Marina.

"Solent Coastguard had received a call saying that cries for help had been heard coming from the water in the vicinity of the stone wall around Portland Marina.

"Arriving on scene at 10.07pm, the all-weather lifeboat carried out an intensive search around the outer wall of the marina and further out into the harbour while the Inshore lifeboat searched around the yachts berthed in the marina.

"After more than an hour of searching nothing was found or heard so Solent Coastguard released both lifeboats at 11.15pm to return to station."