A swimmer was rescued and a climber saved in two separate rescue operations prompted by calls from members of the public.

The Margate volunteer inshore lifeboat were called to the reports off Main Sands at around 7pm last night (July 27).

Police and coastguard rescue teams also attended but the swimmer had already been recovered safely by members of the public to the town’s beach.

A short time later, there were reports of someone stranded on the cliff face at Kingsgate.

Emergency services were able to recover him from the cliff top above, while the Margate and Herne Bay coastguard teams stood guard in the water below.

Lee Button of the Margate RNLI said: “When people get into difficulties, be it at sea or in cliff incidents, time is of the essence and thankfully the calls from the public allowed a rapid response and speedy resolution to both incidents.

“In any coastal emergency, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.”