Beer coastguards and Lyme Regis lifeboat crew were called to Seaton yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon to reports of a possible missing swimmer.

A person had noticed a wallet-type bag on the beach; she believed she saw the person go into the sea but did not see him return and the bag was still on the beach almost an hour later.

The coastguards and lifeboat crew were called at 3.27pm and carried out searches on the beach and in the water.

Devon and Cornwall Police were contacted to make enquiries as the items in the bag gave a name, but no contact number or address.

After searching for one and half hours, the police traced the person to an address 15 miles away and, when they arrived, they found the person safe and with his carers.

They had visited the beach earlier but left the bag on the beach accidentally.

Once it was confirmed they were safe all units were stood down.

A spokesperson for Beer coastguards said: "Please when you visit the beach make sure you take everything home again.

"The person reporting this did the right thing by raising the alarm.

"If you see or believe somebody is in difficulty at the coast, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard."

Call-out during Lifeboat Week

The call-out came amid fundraising activities for Lyme Regis lifeboat crew as they host their annual Lifeboat Week (see video above).

It was the third emergency shout during Lifeboat Week events, with others taking place during a charity cricket match on Friday evening and just after a fire demonstration at the lifeboat station on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Lifeboat Week events have continued undisrupted by both call-outs and the showery weather.

Today (Wednesday), events will include children's beach sports, a teddy bear's picnic, coastguard beach rescue demonstration, morris dancing and the famous Yard of Ale competition outside the Cobb Arms.

Other highlights this week will include a display by the Army's Red Devils parachute team on the main beach on Thursday, a duck race on Friday and a charity football match between the emergency services in Uplyme on Saturday.

The lifeboat crew will then be hosting its annual Blessing of the Boats ceremony – postponed from May – on Sunday, August 1 outside the lifeboat station at 2pm.

For full details of all events this week, buy the Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week programme from local outlets including the RNLI shop on the Cobb, or download the new Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week app from the App Store or Google Play.