TWO Hampshire-based military personnel had to be airlifted from a landing craft today after it started taking in water.

A mayday was broadcast by the 38ft vessel at 2.51pm, when it was two miles of St Alban's Head, south of Swanage, Dorset, and two Coastguard helicopters and lifeboats were scrambled.

Two of the crew members, who are based at 17 Port and Maritime Regiment at Marchwood, Hampshire, were airlifted to Poole while a third member remained with the craft, a Coastguard spokesman said.

The rescued crew who were brought to shore were checked over by medical staff but were uninjured.

A Coastguard spokesman said: ''The landing craft was taken under tow by the Lulworth range safety boat, Smit Cerne, which began to hold the disabled vessel stern first in order to keep the vessel afloat."

He added that the 17 Port and Maritime Regiment had been informed.

Investigations as to the cause of the incident are continuing.