THREE teenage girls - one suffering from a broken leg - were rescued by lifeboat and helicopter crews from rocks on Tuesday evening.

The girls, aged 13, 14 and 15 and thought to be from the Folkestone area, used a mobile phone to call for help after one of them fell and injured her leg near Samphire Hoe, Dover.

They knew they were between Dover and Folkestone, but not sure exactly where. Dover Lifeboat crew were out on an exercise and diverted to the area to search for the girls.

An RAF helicopter from Wattisham, which was also out on exercise, and Folkestone Coastguard team were also involved in the search.

The girls were found 50 yards the Dover side of Samphire Hoe, beneath Shakespeare Cliff. They were airlifted to safety due to the fast incoming tide.

One of the girls had a fracture to her lower right leg and all three were suffering from mild hypothermia. They were all taken to the William Harvey Hospital at Ashford.