COASTGUARD services were called out as an emergency after fears some people on inflatables were being swept out into the English Channel on a strong West Wight current.

The Needles Coastguard Rescue Team, the coastguard helicopter and Freshwater Independent Lifeboat were called out to Compton Bay, after the alarm was raised at 3.30pm today (Sunday, August 11).

It has been a busy weekend for the coastguard services, with call outs to Freshwater Bay this morning (Sunday), to Ryde and the Beaulieu River yesterday (Saturday, August 10) and Chillerton Down on Friday evening (August 9). 

Solent Coastguard was called with reports of inflatables being seen floating away from shore, with persons aboard, at Compton Bay.

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The coast in that area has a notoriously strong tide and may have caught some people unaware, it was feared. 

The rescue volunteers parked up at Compton Bay.

There were several officers on the beach, crowded with tourists, enjoying the sunshine, heading towards Freshwater in full gear, in searing temperatures.

The coastguard rescue helicopter and lifeboat scoured the area for anyone in distress for some time.

But according to the Maritime Coastguard Agency, no persons were found to be in difficulty in the water, and the search was stood down at around 5pm.