A full-scale rescue mission was launched after a group of three climbers failed to tell the Coastguard they planned to climb the cliffs at Dover.

Crew on the Final Answer angling boat reported seeing the three men climbing the cliff east of Dover Harbour at Fan Bay at 4.20pm on Sunday.

Dover Coastguard senior watch manager Pete Legg said the sighting led to a search by the Coastguard teams and Dover Lifeboat was asked to launch its Y boat for better shore-side access while the big boat illuminated the area.

An RAF helicopter was also called before the climbers were found by the crew of the lifeboat.

"One of the people was nearing the top of the cliff, the second person was halfway up and the third person was just starting to climb the cliff," said Dover Lifeboat press officer Tony Hawkins.

The helicopter was cancelled just before 6pm and the rescue teams waited for the climbers to reach the top of the cliff before speaking to them.

"When the Coastguard team arrived at the top of the cliff and interviewed the first person and it was found that there was no problem and they just wanted to climb the cliff.

"They were requested to inform the Coastguard in future prior to climbing the cliff to avoid launching a rescue mission," Mr Hawkins added.