A VILLAGE is today struggling to cope with tragedy after two West Lulworth teenagers were feared dead in a storm.

A third teenager from the village, Richard Lawrence, watched in horror as his friends Matthew Myburgh and Charlie Morrell were swept into the sea from a rock ledge below him.

He bravely went into the waves to help them but was forced to battle his way back to shore and run for help. He was later treated for a hand injury.

A huge search, which at its height involved nearly 100 coastguards, police and other personnel including helicopters and lifeboats, has now been switched from a search and rescue to a search and recovery operation controlled by Dorset Police.

Chief Insp Nick Maton said a training shoe belonging to Matthew and other items of clothing belonging to the missing boys had been found.

Survivor Richard has been interviewed by family liaison officers and Chief Insp Maton said: "He is highly traumatised by all this."

He added that underwater search units from Avon and Somerset Police were due to check the area today and tomorrow.

If they were unsuccessful in finding the boys then a private commercial company would take up the search on Monday, he said.

Purbeck School headteacher Richard Holman said Matthew, 16, Charlie, 15, and survivor Richard, 15, all attended Year 11 at his school in Wareham.

He added that fellow Year 11 pupils had been informed of the situation and said: "Matthew and Charlie were well-known students, popular and well-liked, and they have been here for their entire secondary education.

"We are obviously concerned for their safety and well-being. We are all hoping that they are found. Children here are very subdued and very quiet.

"We will be holding some form of assembly with Matthew and Charlie in our thoughts next week."

The Rev Bob Naylor, who is vicar of Holy Trinity, West Lulworth, said: "I am very shocked.

"I have been to see the families involved and told them that they are in our thoughts and prayers and that the community is thinking of them.

"Essentially we are just a small community and it is an awful thing that has happened, everyone's worst nightmare."

Chief Inspector Maton said the missing boys were playing on ledges at the bottom of the western tip of the cove on Thursday night, the only access being by scrambling along loose rocks where sea and cliffs meet.

Warning signs at Lulworth Cove, which is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, state that climbing is prohibited and that it is "extremely dangerous" to climb or sit beneath the cliffs.

Southern England coastguard commander Mark Rodaway said the boys were either watching waves or fishing.

Conditions at the time they were swept into the sea included nine-foot waves and a Force 9 gale. Mr Rodaway said he was "proud" of the rescue efforts of everyone involved.

Royal Marines from Poole sent six boats to help check the area close to the shoreline.

James Weld, 40, who manages the Lulworth estate including the cove owned by his father, Wilfrid, said: "It's a small community. They are local lads and it's a tragedy. I'm sure it will have a great impact on this community.

"You get visitors climbing cliffs and falling off but seldom do you get locals doing the same thing because they understand the dangers."

A local resident, whose eldest son is a friend of the boys, said: "They weren't tearaways, just normal nice boys."

Lulworth Camp station staff officer Major Mike Bartlett said that more than 60 people including military staff, range wardens and range safety boats, were helping the search.

He added: "I just hope we get a successful outcome but it is looking grim."