COASTGUARDS in Burnham used hovercrafts to rescue a man in difficulty on the mudflats a mile from the shore.

Beach lifeguards at Berrow raised the alarm after spotting the struggling walker and volunteers from BARB search and rescue, along with Burnham Coastguards, were quickly on the scene.

Burnham's two rescue hovercrafts were launched and the man, who was on holiday from overseas, was taken onboard and flown back to the safety of the beach.

A spokesperson for BARB said: "The man was seen wading through mud a long distance from the shore in an area where other beach users have previously got into difficulty."

"We worked to get the man safely back onto the shore. The incident is a fresh reminder to the public about staying clear of the muddy areas of the beach where it's possible to get into difficulty."