THREE divers were rushed to Poole Hospital on Saturday morning believed to be suffering from the bends.

Portland coastguard were called to a dive boat in Swanage Bay just after 11.30am.

Two of the divers were said to be showing symptoms of decompression sickness and all three were airlifted to Poole.

The trio, one of whom was thought to be under 18, were then transferred by ambulance to the decompression chamber at Poole Hospital.

A coastguard spokesman said the divers had missed their stops' - the slow ascent practised by divers to prevent them suffering the bends.