A FULL scale air, sea and land alert was sparked following reports that a microlight aeroplane had gone down off the Minehead coast late on Monday afternoon.

Coastguards, two life-boats, ambulance crews and even a helicopter from RAF Chivenor were called out after a passer-by reported seeing the aircraft disappear - supposedly into the water - opposite Butlins.

But after 30 minutes of searching, emergency services discovered the likely suspect - a fridge bobbing on the waves.

A spokesman for the South West Ambulance Service, which had three vehicles on standby, said the alarm had been raised by a number of people.

"Apparently there was a microlight in the area and when it disappeared behind some rocks, it was believed it may have gone down."

Minehead RNLI spokesman Mat Thresher said both the Atlantic 85 and D Class boats were launched following the call just after 5pm.

A thorough search of the area was made but no plane found.

"This was a genuine call - a false alarm but with good intention," said Mr Thresher.

"We would rather be called than not - it's always better to be safe than sorry," he said.

The latest incident followed another false alarm for the lifeboat crews, who were called out a week earlier to help their counterparts in Ilfracombe following reports of a sinking boat near the Valley of the Rocks.

Aafter a search, nothing was found.