Police surrounded a village today after an dinghy found abandoned on a beach sparked rumours illegal immigrants had landed.

The empty boat was spotted on Kingsdown beach and reported to the Dover Coastguard... but it actually belonged to a fisherman.

The empty white vessel with a double engine was found on the shore, about 150 yards from the Zetland Arms pub in Wellington Parade, this morning.

A Dover Coastguard spokesman said: "This man informed us. He had watched the vessel come ashore. He thought there were a lot of people on it and thought they were illegal.

"He had managed to grab one who turned out to be the owner of the vessel."

In the meantime, police surrounded the village.

Joel Russel, employee at The Zetland Arms, said: "I haven't seen any people but there's been loads of police up here.

"I noticed the dinghy when I turned up for work at 9am. It's been left to the right of the pub, towards the golf club.

"It's not a cheap dinghy, it's got a big double engine. It's not huge, it would probably fit five or six people, at a guess."

Police confirmed they were called to Oldstairs Road, Kingsdown at 7.46am, today.

A police spokesman said: "It looks from our log that it was just a fisherman that came to shore."

A Dover Coastguard spokesman added: "The guy was released without any charge and sent on his way."

Pictures to come.