Multiple emergency services descended on Sidmouth last night after a distress call came in that a car had been swept into the sea at Sidmouth.

At around 8pm on Wednesday (November 1), they were alerted to a 4x4 vehicle that had plunged into the sea off the Esplanade.

Crews from Sidmouth along with the specialist rescue team from Exmouth Fire Station and two Flexi Duti Officers were swiftly mobilized to the scene.

A spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said: "Our crews battled against challenging conditions - heavy seas, strong winds, and torrential rain, to check no one was in the car, which was lying overturned on the Port Royal beach. The vehicle was secured using winching equipment. 

"We were very quickly joined by the HART team from South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust , Devon And Cornwall Police HQ, Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat and Beer Coastguard Rescue Team. However, after an exhaustive search, it was confirmed by family members that all the individuals involved had managed to escape the vehicle unharmed."