EMERGENCY services rushed to a beach in Somerset yesterday afternoon after hearing a woman and her two dogs were stranded due to an incoming tide.

At around 4:50pm, Burnham-on-Sea lifeboat crews were paged by Milford Haven Coastguard as the victim had been cut off by the tide near Kilve.

Also paged, and launched, were the Minehead RNLI Atlantic 85 and D class lifeboats, who sped alongside Burnham RNLI crews to the location as a matter of urgency.

Upon arrival at the scene, the D class boat took a Burnham crew member and landed on shore to assist the casualty, who remained at risk because of the swift incoming tide.

The woman and her dogs were soon passed over to the Minehead lifeboat, and transported to Watchet harbour, where colleagues from Watchet Coastguard were waiting to meet and support her after the ordeal.

Burnham RNLI's Atlantic was back and recovered just after 6:00 pm, washed down, refuelled and made ready for service once again by 6:45 pm.

Launch Authority Nigel Morton said: "A good outcome, and the dog walker did the right thing by dialling 999 and asking the Coastguard for assistance.

"A happy outcome! We’re always happy to assist, but if you’re heading out on the coastline, we recommend checking the tide times first, and always carrying a means of calling for help should you need it."

Nigel was commended by fellow volunteers as this was his first shout overseen since recently qualifying successfully as a Launch Authority in Burnham-on-Sea.