A ROMANTIC couple got into trouble when they abandoned their car in a secluded coastal spot as a storm threatened to wash them away.

The pair were parked on Posbrook Lane, Hill Head, between Stubbington and Lee-on-Solent, when the waves came too close and the car was dragged down towards the sea onto the shingle.

They were initially too frightened to leave the car in case they were knocked over by 5ft waves and drowned, so they called for help on their mobile phone.

By the time a fire crew arrived, the young couple, aged in their early 20s, had braved the storm and run to safety, abandoning the car to the sea.

Sub Fire Officer Jim Stone said: "We got a report from a frightened young man and woman who were trapped in their car as the waves got bigger and swept over their car.

"The sea was surrounding them with each wave that broke over the car bonnet and roof. It began to be dragged down to the shingle and there was no way they could drive anywhere because there was no traction on the stones.

"They were frightened to leave the relative safety of the car in case they were washed away, but decided the only way out of the situation was to run for it.

"They were lucky they weren't hit by waves. It was blowing a gale and the sea was very rough. They had a difficult decision to make.''

The fire crew took the wet pair to Titchfield, where a parent collected them.