A hovercraft was sent to rescue a group that became stranded on an island off the north Norfolk coast.

The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) Brancaster's watchkeepers, Ralph and Mike, spotted five people stuck on Scolt Head Island on Saturday afternoon.

They had been cut off by the fast-flowing incoming tide.

The group all entered the water to try to make it back, but only two were successful.

The other three returned to the island.

RNLI Hunstanton dispatched its hovercraft, which flew to the island and brought the stranded trio back to the beach. They were cared for by the Coastguard's rescue team after their lucky rescue.

READ MORE: Great Yarmouth RNLI's £2.5m lifeboat joins relief fleet 

All three were: "cold and wet, but otherwise uninjured."

NCI Brancaster shared videos of the rescue to social media alongside a warning for people to be cautious in the future.

"This should highlight the dangers of not understanding the tides and how easy it is to be stranded on Scolt Head Island," the caption said. 

It added that it was "a good instance of the three SAR partners working together."

NCI Brancaster currently needs five or six more volunteers.

No previous experience is required, just a commitment to a regular watch of around four hours per week.

Interested parties should reach out to the charity directly.