Dramatic moment three dog walkers are rescued by coastguard helicopter crew after getting stranded on beach as Storm Isha howled around them

 Liveblog: Read the latest on how Storm Isha is wreaking havoc across Britain

This is the dramatic moment a coastguard helicopter crew rescued three dog walkers and their pets during Storm Isha.

The emergency services were called by the party after they found themselves stranded on a beach on Britain’s Jurassic Coast.

The women, aged in their late teens, 30s and 40s, set off from Lyme Regis to Charmouth in Dorset in deteriorating weather conditions.

The oldest member of the group injured her leg when she was blown over by the strong winds.

She was unable to move and the other women got cut off on the rocks at Black Ven and were sinking into mud as the tide rapidly came in.

The emergency services were called by the party after they found themselves stranded on a beach on Britain’s Jurassic Coast

They called 999 and Lyme Regis coastguard, West Bay coastguard, Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat and the coastguard helicopter from St Athan in Glamorgan were dispatched to the scene.

The ferocious sea conditions meant it was too risky for the lifeboat to get to them and so it was decided to winch them off the beach one by one.

The helicopter crew had to contend with the 60mph winds to hover for 30 minutes above the beach to carry out the rescue.

The injured woman was put on a stretcher and hoisted into the helicopter first, followed by her two friends and the three dogs.

The incident took place at 1.30pm yesterday.

The women were flown to the car park at Charmouth where they were passed into the care of South Western Ambulance Service.

Eye-witness Rich Lisney said: ‘From a safe vantage point I watched the coastguard helicopter winching a member of the public onboard and during the next 30 minutes, another two people.

‘It was terrifying to watch as Storm Isha winds were gusting to 50mph or more.

‘I was in awe of how stable the helicopter kept its position throughout the rescue and have a great deal of respect for the brave coastguard service who are tasked with saving lives in all weathers.’

But other members of the public criticised the dog walkers for heading out in the middle of the storm.

Jackie Horsley said: ‘Crazy being anywhere near the beach.

‘The storm was forecast so why endanger the lives of the coastguards?’

The helicopter crew had to contend with the 60mph winds to hover for 30 minutes above the beach to carry out the rescue

Helen Craton said: ‘Why do people put others at risk.’

Alison Ward added: ‘They (the rescuers are) definitely heroes. The wind became so fierce so quickly, it was frightening.’

A Lyme Regis coastguard spokesperson said: ‘The women were walking from Lyme Regis to Charmouth and they got caught out by the tide and extreme weather.

‘The older lady had fallen and had a lower leg injury so she was unable to move.

‘With Storm Isha coming in and the fading light it was a race against time.

‘The conditions made the rescue trickier with the high winds throwing everyone about.

‘The injured woman was lifted in a stretcher and the whole group and their dogs were winched to safety.

‘There was an Amber weather warning and there was no way they would have got back with the tide coming in like that.

‘I think people underestimate how quickly the tide comes in when you’ve got high winds.’