TWO walkers were rescued after they decided to walk the coast path - on the beach.

The 20-year-olds missed the start of the South West Coast Path and were rescued by the Minehead RNLI last Thursday (August 26).

The pair tried to negotiate their way along the beach, at the bottom of 1000-foot cliffs, instead of using the top cliff path.

When they reached Selworthy Sands, just three miles west of Minehead, they could not continue due to the incoming tide.

They called for help and within minutes the Minehead lifeboats were launch.

The pair were taken off the beach by a crew of the D class and transferred to the Atlantic 85.

Minehead RNLI spokesperson Dave Smith said : “They were certainly happy to be rescued. The tide was still on the way in and they would have spent a very cold night on the rocks waiting for it to ebb again.

“Luckily they had one of the things we always urge people to carry when walking around here - a means of calling for help.”

The pair were taken to a youth hostel to spend the night, and they continued with their walk of the coastal path the next day.