TWO paddle-boarders who found themselves unable to get ashore were rescued by Minehead’s RNLI lifeboat crew on Sunday afternoon.

The women, both in their 30s, had put out from Dunster beach using a single board.

Onlookers raised the alarm when they appeared to have got themselves into a difficult position.

The tide had just started ebbing and with a strong offshore breeze the pair were finding it impossible to make any progress back to the beach.

Minehead’s volunteer crew launched their station’s Atlantic 85 and were on scene within five minutes.

Station spokesman Dave Smith said: “As soon as the boat got close to the women they began shouting and waving and they were obviously in trouble and quite frightened.

”The crew got them aboard and they were clearly very grateful to have been rescued. They were both tired and one in particular had swallowed quite a bit of water.”

The casualties were landed back on Dunster beach and handed over to the care of a local coastguard team.