EMERGENCY services rushed to Burnham-on-Sea beach following reports a vulnerable person had entered the water.

Burnham-on-Sea Coastguard, BARB Search and Rescue, the RNLI and Avon and Somerset Police were called at 7.10pm on Tuesday (January 22) to search for the person around Burnham's Lower Lighthouse after a concerned call from a member of the public.

The rescue teams split up with the RNLI searching in water around the lighthouse and the Coastguard scouring footpaths and the beach.

BARB Search and Rescue's volunteers also carried out shoreline searches along the north and south sides of Burnham beach and searched from a slipway up to Allandale Road but there was no sign of the person.

A spokesman for Burnham Coastguard said: "All Coastguard search teams were equipped for an immediate snatch rescue, his means that if the person was found a team member could enter the water on a line and once with the person can then be pulled back to safety.

"It's a fast and very cold rescue but can be necessary at times.

"With no one being found and the first informant not sticking around either, there was a possibility that whoever it was left the scene.

"The lifeboats carried out a search covering the drift direction should anyone be in the water but nothing was found.

"We do urge anyone if they are reporting an incident if you can stay nearby then please do so.

"If you can stay on the line to an operator then please do so.

"We need as much information as possible and every second really does count, especially in this weather.

"If you are feeling low and are struggling emotionally there are many helplines you can call, remember it's OK not to be OK.

"We hope that if there was someone in distress that they have gone somewhere safe."

If you see anyone in distress along the coast, don't delay, dial 999 immediately and ask for the Coastguards, every second counts and it could save someone's life.