VOLUNTEER lifeboat crew helped police search for a missing man in a “reportedly distressed state”.

The Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched on Thursday night, before the man was found safe and well.

A Lyme Regis RNLI spokesman, said: “The lifeboat launched at 7.38pm and the crew carried out a shoreline search of the Monmouth Beach area, to the west of Lyme Regis Harbour.

“Nothing was found by the crew, and the search was called off after some 15 minutes when it was understood that the man had been found safe and well ashore.”

Dorset Police assisted colleagues from Avon and Somerset in the search for a missing person.

A spokesman from Dorset Police said: “We were assisting Avon and Somerset Police in their search for a missing person from the Chard area.

“It appears he was found safe and well in the Monmouth Beach area at around 7.30pm last night.”

PC Richard Winward of Lyme Regis police took to Twitter to thank emergency services for their help.