HOPES were fading today for two teenagers washed off rocks into heavy seas at Lulworth Cove.

The boys, aged 15 and 16, who are believed to be Purbeck School pupils, were fishing or climbing on rocks when they were swept into the sea in front of a third boy who went into the sea to try and help them.

The third boy managed to fight his way ashore through crashing waves and winds gusting to 70mph and run into the village to raise the alarm.

A massive search was launched with more than 50 police and coastguards, sniffer dogs, the Dorset Police helicopter, coastguard helicopters from Portland and Lee-on-Solent and lifeboats from Weymouth and Lulworth taking part.

Among volunteers searching the cliffs and shoreline in appalling conditions were village teenagers Sam Griffiths and Maria Osmond.

Sam said: "They were our friends and we were searching for them most of the night."

Maria added: "It is horrible, but you just don't give up hope.

"I just hope they are safe and on the shore somewhere."

Swanage Lifeboat is also searching today, Royal Marines are sending surf boats to help and Southern England coastguard commander Mark Rodaway said: "We understand that the boys were either engaged in fishing or they were watching some fairly spectacular seas coming into the Cove area.

"They were a group of three friends, two were on a ledge slightly lower, one was on a ledge slightly above them. A large wave came in, swept two into the water and the third young person tried to effect a rescue, we understand.

"He entered the water to try and help his friends but couldn't see them. It was dark and there were raging seas.

"He fortunately reached the shore and raised the alarm.

"Because of the sea conditions and the duration that we have been searching, a successful outcome is looking less likely.

"That doesn't mean to say we will stop searching because clearly we want to recover both boys to their families."

He said the water temperature was 14C and that a person could survive in such temperatures for around three hours without wearing survival equipment.

He added: "What we are hopeful for at the moment is that the boys made the shore and that they are injured somewhere we can access them."

Superintendent Dave Griffith of Dorset Police said today: "It is heartbreaking.

"With the length of time and the coldness of the water we have got to fear the worst.

"However, we will keep looking.

"We have lifeboats and marine units searching the cove and police and coastguard teams searching two miles down to the west towards Bats Head as well as six miles to the east towards Worbarrow Bay.

"The force helicopter searched until 3am and has now rejoined us.

"It will search up the coast and the coastguard helicopter from Lee-on-Solent will search down the coast towards us."