By Lynn Morris LIFEBOAT crews spent hours searching Poole Harbour after pranksters set off some red flares.
Angry coastguard Philip Chappell said: "This was a malicious hoax and if there had been a real emergency it would have put lives in danger.
"The coastguard takes every red flare seriously."
Four lifeboats were launched early Saturday morning after red flares were seen in the night sky.
Two hours of searching, involving about 20 people, found only a group of five young people who were suspected of setting off the flares as a joke.
Police are investigating the matter.
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