A search was carried out last night by Sidmouth Lifeboat following concerns for a swimmer near Jacobs Ladder.

The lifeboat was launched just after 10pm last night after a member of the public had reported seeing a person struggling and drifting from Jacobs Ladder towards Big Picket rock. Alongside Beer Coastguard the crew arrived at the scene to find the person with a kayak and carrying out swimming training.

Guy Russell, senior coxswain, said: “The first informant had watched in the fading light and accurately described the location which enabled the lifeboat to locate the incident. Once the lifeboat was on scene they were able to identify that this was a kayak paddling alongside a swimmer in the water undertaking swimming training, they were spoken to and were comfortable in the water and well equipped.

“This was a false alarm with good intent and the first informant did exactly the right thing and called 999.”