Couple are rescued from thick mud

In its first 18 months the hovercraft has rescued more than 85 people

A couple walking in thick mud almost a mile from the Somerset coast have been rescued by Burnham's hovercraft.

The Spirit Of Lelaina was on a training mission on Saturday when it was alerted by a member of the public.

A spokesman for the hovercraft said: "Given their location and the dangerous mud around them, they were lucky not to have got into difficulties."

The couple, who thought they were not in danger near Brean, were persuaded to accept a ride back to the shore.

The news comes just three weeks after the Burnham hovercraft rescued a dog walker at Brean when he became stuck up to his waist in mud.