A young man hunting for fossils had to be rescued from a cliff in Charmouth yesterday evening.

Firefighters and coastguard teams were deployed to Charmouth beach just after 5pm on Friday, April 12 after a young man had become stuck on the cliff. 

Rescuers said he had been looking for fossils and had climbed the cliff before becoming stuck.

Charmouth Fire Station, along with a specialist team from Weymouth Fire Station and teams from West Bay and Lyme Regis coastguard worked together and safely brought the man down with the use of a ladder as he was reunited with his family.

READ: Cliff fall on East Beach in West Bay following Storm Nelson

A spokesperson for Charmouth Fire Station, said: "At 5.05pm we mobilised to a rescue from height at Charmouth Beach along with the Technical Rescue team from Weymouth Fire Station

"Once in attendance we coordinated our efforts with West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team and Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue team to rescue a young lad who had climbed up the cliff looking for fossils, but had unfortunately become stuck and was in danger of falling.

READ: West Dorset cliffs a 'ticking time bomb' away from collapse

"Crews reached him using a ladder and he was guided back down the cliff safely, and reunited with his family."

There have been recent rockfalls in West Bay and Burton Bradstock and the fire service was keen to remind the public about the dangers of the cliffs in the area.

It added: "Please do not climb the cliffs, they are far more treacherous than they look."