There’s more flak flying from rescuers – this time aimed at ‘irresponsible’ climbers who had to be plucked from a sea cliff.

Coastguard rescue teams were called to two men in their 20s who had gone climbing at night, without waterproofs, in high winds. One of the men, from Winchester, Hampshire, had called the rescue team two weeks previously.

The two called for help when they got into difficulties when a rope got stuck while climbing on Guillemot Ledge near Swanage, Dorset. The rescue team climbed down the cliff to lead the stricken climbers to safety.

An RNLI lifeboat took to the sea to provide lighting for the rescue operation. A spokesperson for Portland Coastguard told the BBC: “Most climbers are sensible enough not to do this sort of thing in a howling gale in the middle of the night.

“It's just asking for trouble in these conditions and it puts other people at risk. The sea was so rough that the inshore lifeboat had to go back.”

The men were, according to rescuers, given a ‘severe talking to’ after their ordeal.