TWO swimmers were swept 200 metres out to sea after being caught in the current.

The Lyme Regis RNLI and the Beer Coastguard Rescue Team were called to reports of four people washed out to sea and shouting for help by the entrance to Axmouth Harbour yesterday evening.

The Beer Coastguard arrived at the scene and were informed that two people had been snorkelling around the river mouth when they were caught in the current on a dropping tide and taken 200 metres out to sea in mere seconds.

The coastguard arrived as the pair were seen coming ashore east of the river mouth. A local boat had launched and was searching off the river mouth for any other people in difficulty.

The Lyme Regis lifeboat then arrived and being searching for the reported other two people.

Beer Coastguard made contact with the two people which had come ashore and both teams determined there was no other people in difficulty.

A spokesman for Lyme Regis RNLI said: "The lifeboat was launched at 7.52pm last night after initial reports that four people were in difficulties in the water at the entrance to Axmouth harbour.

Later it was confirmed that only two people were involved and they were safely on the beach when the lifeboat crew arrived on scene at 8.02pm.

To make sure no-one else was involved the lifeboat crew carried out a shoreline search and were then stood down arriving back at Lyme Regis harbour at 8.45pm.