WATCHET Coastguard Search and Rescue Team has had one of its busiest years – by Christmas, the team had received 61 calls to respond to emergencies.

They varied from missing person searches and cliff rescues to immediate water and mud rescues from the shoreline and Watchet harbour, as well as medical evacuations.

The team has also been called out to reports of stranded marine mammals and suspected ammunition and other dubious items on the beaches.

And they have assisted at scenes of road accidents while on patrol.

Responding with colleagues from Minehead, Lynmouth and Burnham-on-Sea Coastguard stations, among others, as well as the RNLI at Minehead, the coastguards have worked closely with several organisations.

These include Avon and Somerset Police, the South Western Ambulance Service, air ambulance services, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, Exmoor Search and Rescue, and the Royal Navy and Army bomb disposal teams. 

Coastguard cliff rescue technician Richard Nicholas is pictured practising over the cliff at Kilve with a stretcher. More pictures and full report in the Free Press.