A major rescue operation took place in the early hours of the morning after 40 people were cut off by the tide.

The joint operation by the coastguard, RNLI and police two miles east of Margate was further complicated after officers received reports of a naked man calling for help in the water.

The drama began shortly after midnight this morning when the coastguard recieved reports of 40 people cut off by the tide at Botany Bay, Broadstairs.

A major rescue operation was launched, involving three RNLI lifeboats and two coastguard rescue teams alongside the coastguard rescue helicopter. They were joined by a large number of police units.

Upon arrival at the scene, coastguard officers were informed that a naked man had entered the sea and was heard to be calling for help, having never been seen to leave the water.

Thankfully, emergency responders were able to guide the stranded group to the safety of the clifftop via a cliff path, allowing a search operation to begin to locate the reported person in the sea.

The search included the use of parachute illuminating flares, searchlights and airborne electronic detection aids with coastguard units carrying out a shoreline search.

With good sea conditions meaning there was no restriction on the search area, emergency teams scoured the coast between North Foreland and Walpole bay for around three hours.

However, with the initial group safely recovered to the clifftop and no further reports of any missing people, the search was eventually terminated and the rescue units stood down.

Lee Button, Deputy Launching Authority of Margate RNLI said: “All involved were faced with a potentially serious mass-casualty rescue operation, all in the dark.

“As well as the immediate concern for the reported person in the water there was the risk that some of the group would attempt to make their own way to safety complicating an already complex operation.

“Thankfully the shoreside teams were able to assist the group to safety and we urge people to think of the potential for being cut off by the tide when on beaches in the area.”