WATCHET coastguards have urged people to use the what3words mobile app following confusion during a rescue operation.

The team was called to reports of a woman having fallen while walking near the waterfall in St Audries Bay.

She was said to have a head injury with the ambulance waiting while the coastguard casualty carers and search team were sent to locate and stabilise her.

A Watchet Coastguards spokesperson said: "On our arrival at Home Farm Holiday Centre, which has the nearest access point to the waterfall, we deployed two casualty carers immediately down onto the beach to locate the female. "The remaining team members stood by to then take down to the scene whatever additional equipment, including one of our rescue stretchers, as required.

"We were soon informed that the female was not by the water fall and it appeared she was 250 metres further across the bay near to an access point at St Audries Bay Holiday Club."

The casualty carers then walked along the beach while the coastguards rescue vehicle and remaining team member drove to the holiday park.

The spokesperson added: "On arrival at the beach the female was now being walked off by the attending ambulance crew with firefighters from Williton Fire Station, who had also been tasked.

"No stretcher evacuation was required and we were stood down and able to return to station.

"This was another example of community volunteers responding from both our team of HM Coastguards as well as the volunteer fire fighters from Williton Fire Station on what was International Volunteer Day (Saturday)."

They urged people in a remote location or on the shoreline who do not know exactly where they are to use a British grid reference or a mobile app such as what3words to let potential rescuers know their exact position and identify the best access point. The spokesperson added: "Luckily today the injuries were not time critical in the end, but knowing exactly your location helps us to help you.

"Remember if you are in difficulty on the beach, sea, coast path or see someone in distress to dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard."