REVELLERS at a stag-do party are thought to have sparked a four-hour emergency rescue operation after taking a dinghy out on the River Hamble.

Lifeboat crews, Solent Coastguard and Hampshire police spent hours searching the waters during the early hours of yesterday when several reports came in of a group of four men in trouble out on the water.

One report into the emergency services suggested that one of the men had fallen from the dinghy into the freezing waters of the river and had been pulled back into the boat.

But after an extensive search by crews on the shore, two lifeboats and help from the air with the Solent Coastguard helicopter, police later discovered that the party were in fact safely at home.

Rescuers are now calling for people to never go out on boats after drinking alcohol and have criticised the group for putting themselves and the emergency crews in danger, as well as the huge cost of the operation.

A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "It looks as if they were out on a stag-do and decided to take a boat out on the water.

"There was then a number of reports suggesting they were in trouble.

"After searching the area with police and life boats and the Solent Coastguard helicopter it was discovered that the party was safe at home and were all accounted for.

"We are obviously glad that no one was injured. This is what we are here for.

"However it was a lot of resources that were deployed and we would always suggest that people do not go out on the water after drinking alcohol."

More than a dozen rescuers, including police officers, the coastguard, Hamble Lifeboat and Calshot's inshore and all weather lifeboats took part in the operation.

Colin Olden of Hamble Lifeboat said: "We always say that just like not drinking and driving, alcohol and boats should never mix.

"Not only does it put them at risk but the crews as well. It also costs lifeboat stations a lot in fuel to carry out these searches and the crew are all volunteers."

A spokesman for Hampshire police said officers were planning to visit the group to explain the cost and effort of the emergency response.

"No one will be charged with anything because it wasn't them that actually called for help.

"It appears that other people called the emergency services and they didn't know.

"However officers will be visiting them to explain about the cost and everything involved in what was a substantial search."