HOYLAKE RNLI hovercraft was requested to launch by the UK Coastguard at 2.33pm yesterday following reports that a swimmer may have been in difficulty off Meols.

An RNLI spokesman said: "A member of the public had last seen the swimmer around 300 metres off the slipway at Dovepoint and was concerned for their safety.

"Hoylake’s relief hovercraft John Russell and her volunteer crew launched and headed to the scene.

"Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team officers carried out a shoreline search between Meols and Leasowe while the hovercraft searched the water offshore, but no swimmers could be seen.

"It was then reported that the swimmer may have been heading towards Leasowe. RNLI Wirral Lifeguards confirmed that there were a number of swimmers in the water in Leasowe Bay and the RNLI hovercraft began a further search towards their location.

"The hovercraft crew spoke to a swimmer in Leasowe Bay, however they had entered the water from the nearby beach and not from Meols.

"After the Coastguard had spoken to a number of witnesses on the shore, it was established that the person had come ashore and appeared to be an experienced swimmer.

"The hovercraft was then stood down and returned to the lifeboat station to be washed down, refuelled and made ready for service again."