A lifeboat crew called to a “possible cap-sized dinghy or person in the water” have issued a sea-safety warning - as it found it had instead been called to rescue an inflatable.

Dungeness RNLI in Romney Marsh were asked by the UK Coastguard last night to investigate.

But it is safe to say what the team actually found - an inflatable bird which had drifted from the shore - was unlikely to have required too much medical attention.

The crew said inflatables are better used in swimming pools, rather than the sea, on Twitter at around 9pm.

“As this evening’s tasking has shown, it is very easy for inflatables to get blown offshore and can easily put a person in danger,” it added.

It came as people enjoyed the August Bank Holiday weekend at the seaside.

“This evening, our volunteer crew were tasked by the UK Coastguard to a possible cap-sized dinghy or person in the water east of Hythe Ranges,” the lifeboat station had said.

“After a search, an inflatable puffin/toucan - you tell us - was found.

“This was a false alarm with good intent.

“After discussions with the coastguard, it was ascertained that there were no reported missing people in the area.

“The lifeboat was then stood down.”

Dungeness RNLI guards from Folkestone to Rye Bay.

Read more: All the latest news from Romney Marsh

Read more: All the latest news from Hythe

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone