A REPORT of a light aircraft crashing on a beach near Watchet on Friday evening (January 3) turned out to be a false alarm when Coastguards investigated.

The alert was sounded when what appeared to be an aircraft in distress was seen losing height and coming down between Watchet and Blue Anchor.

A member of Watchet Coastguards team reached the beach within minutes of the report and discovered it was actually a microlight aircraft.

The pilot had landed on the beach and was then witnessed taking off again shortly after.

The rest of the Coastguard team were stood down and were able to return to the station on The Esplanade.

A Coastguard spokesperson said: “This was a call with good intent and the witnesses were correct in reporting their concerns as the microlight looked far larger from a distance and a fixed wing aircraft landing on the beach is not a normal occurrence.”