A "FRESH wind" caught out sailors and paddleboarders on Friday, leading to a busy day for Poole's RNLI volunteers.

At 3pm, coastguard officials received a 'pan pan' call from a vessel which had run aground near the entrance of the Wareham Channel.

Such a call is given over the radio when a vessel is in an urgent but not dangerous situation.

The vessel was reported to be just off Swineham Point. The wind, which was blowing 20 knots from the east, had nudged the boat into the shallows.

The lifeboat was called out due to a problem communicating with the vessel's crew. However, while the RNLI were on their way, they received a call to say the two people on board had been able to get back to dry land.

Just a short time later, at 5pm, the lifeboat was called out to the same boat after the crew found they were unable to refloat the vessel as it was stuck in reeds.

Volunteer Jonathan Clark said the rescue was made tricky by "wooden stakes" hammered into the ground in the channel.

"Our crew perilously negotiated the wooden stakes to evacuate the crew of the stricken boat to safety," he said.

The crew of the Atlantic lifeboat were due to meet younger members of the North Haven Yacht Club at 6pm. However, just before setting off, they were called out to find two paddleboarders who had got into trouble east of Brownsea.

The pair were tired and "struggling to make it back", Mr Clark said. They were brought aboard the lifeboat and wrapped up warm before the volunteers dropped them back at Evening Hill.

Straight after, the volunteers were called to help a 17-foot cabin cruiser with three people on board which had broken down west of Brownsea and was drifting.

The vessel was towed back to shore.

Mr Clark said: “There was a fresh wind out in the harbour on Friday and it caught a few people out.

"We are always happy to help and they all did the right thing raising the alarm.

"We're sorry that we had to disappoint the youngsters, butwe hope to rearrange the visit to North Haven Yacht Club in the near future."