RNLI crews and agencies from Dorset and Hampshire successfully located a missing person after a five-and-a-half-hour search.

The Mudeford RNLI volunteer crew were called at 4.53am yesterday morning to launch the lifeboat to search for a missing person.

The Mudeford Servant arrived at the scene of the search shortly after 5am, with sea conditions described as calm, and visibility as good.

The crew carried out a shoreline search between Avon Beach to Barton-on-Sea, before moving out to sea, with the boat covering an area of around six square miles.

After more than three hours of searching in cold weather conditions, the boat returned to their station to refuel and for a crew change.

Dorset Echo:

The search continued, with the area expanded to cover Bournemouth and Poole, with the Mudeford crew working closely with Poole lifeboat and other agencies across the coastline.

Lymington, Southbourne and Poole coastguards carried out shoreline searches, with additional support provided by the Lee-on-Solent helicopter.

The missing person was found and the crews were stood down at 10.20am. The individual was found conscious but needing attention.

Over the course of the five-and-a-half-hour search, the Mudeford Servant lifeboat covered 60 miles and used 120 litres of fuel.

The helm of the Mudeford lifeboat, Andy Read, said: “The multi-agency working with our local CRTs and helicopter was really effective and it was a great outcome.”