COASTGUARD crews winched a man to hospital after he suffered a leg injury on Charmouth Beach.

West Bay Coastguard officers were paged at 1.16pm on Saturday to assist Lyme Regis officers with the evacuation of a man.

Gerry Bearpark, of Lyme Regis Coastguard, said: "Officers found a casualty with an open fracture on his lower left leg and he was in a lot of pain."

Officers from West Bay were escorted to the casualty, who was located on the beach to the west of Charmouth, near Black Ven.

Lyme Regis officers were already in attendance, providing first aid.

Officers decided that moving the man would risk further injury and called for a helicopter to evacuate him for treatment.

Jake Lanning, rescue officer for West Bay Coastguard, said: "Coastguard rescue helicopter callsign ‘106’ was scrambled from its base on Portland and joined us on scene.

"Officers from West Bay and Lyme Regis secured the beach and moved members of the public to a safe distance to give the helicopter room to manoeuvre and work.

"A coastguard paramedic was winched down to the casualty to provide him with much needed pain relief and prepare him for recovery back to the aircraft.

The man was taken to Dorset County Hospital in the helicopter.

Jake added: "We wish the man a full and speedy recovery.

"It was a busy day on the beach and we want to thank members of the public for their patience whilst areas of the beach were closed due to this incident."