APART from two callouts on Saturday, it was a quiet May Bank Holiday weekend for Sidmouth Lifeboat.

APART from two callouts on Saturday, it was a quiet May Bank Holiday weekend for Sidmouth Lifeboat.

The first call on Saturday came just before 8pm to help two people on board a dinghy with suspected engine failure.

The 11-foot dinghy and its two male occupants was located about 200 metres offshore at Weston Mouth.

The young men were unharmed, although exhausted after rowing for two hours.

They were taken on board the lifeboat and the dinghy was towed back to Sidmouth, where it and its crew were put safely ashore at Port Royal beach where they were met by Beer Coastguard Rescue Team.

Sidmouth Lifeboat's senior coxswain Simon Sparrow said: "Even on a warm day with no wind people can still get into difficulties.

"Spare fuel, a pair of oars, lifejackets, compass, an anchor and a means of communication is essential.

"Telling a friend where you are going and when you expect to come back will make a trip out on the sea safer and more fun."

Crewing the lifeboat with Simon were Andy Carmichael, Phil Shepperd and Dan Green, while Dennis Hutchings launched it by tractor.

Just two hours later, at 11.41pm, the crew was in action again, tasked by Portland Coastguard to help police search between Beer beach and Seaton for a reportedly distressed missing woman.

While Beer Coastguard teams searched the shore and cliffs and the police helicopter, based in Exeter, searched from above, Sidmouth Lifeboat searched close inshore between Beer Head and the mouth of the River Axe.

Just after 1am police reported the woman had been found safe and well at home and the search was called off.

Pam Taylor took over from Dan Green to join the same crew as the earlier callout.