COPS have slammed two divers flouting lockdown rules who sparked a two hour search and rescue operation involving a Royal Navy warship.

A huge search and rescue missing took place off the coast of Dorset yesterday afternoon after the second diver called the emergency services when his friend disappeared.

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Now both have been handed £60 fines by police for breaching the government's coronavirus restrictions.

The pair had gone into the sea south of Seatown, close to the border with Devon, as temperatures soared on Saturday.

But when one of the divers failed to surface, his pal called the emergency services.

Two coastguard helicopters, RNLI lifeboats crewed by volunteers, four fishing boats, a dive boat and the Royal Navy ship HMS Tyne joined a huge search for the man.

'HE PUT PRESSURE ON OVERWORKED SERVICES'

Finally, after two hours, eagle-eyed sailor Sub Lieutenant Andrew Boyle, who is training on the Navy ship, spotted the lone diver three miles away from the dive boat.

The diver was pulled from the water safe and well.

Lieutenant Nick Ward, the Executive Officer of HMS Tyne, said the young officer "helped save the diver's life".

“The ship’s company quickly adapted to a changing situation and worked to support the coastguard, the RNLI and local mariners in carrying out the search," he said.

“We are always concerned for the safety of our fellow mariners at sea.

"Thankfully, SLt Boyle spotted the diver and we were able to play a key part in recovering him quickly.”

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Officials from the Lyme Regis Coastguard Team, who joined the search, said: "He had surfaced, but lost sight of the boat.

"Both of those onboard had been diving as a leisure activity.

"They were fined by the police as they were deemed to have been in breach of the lockdown guidance.

"The government has been clear that during this coronavirus pandemic, we need to stay home to save lives.

"Leisure diving is not essential and every 999 call made could put our frontline responders at risk of Covid-19 and places avoidable pressure on our vital NHS services."

Today, we reported that police were called to a home in Widnes, Cheshire 30 times in just a single month after lockdown rules were repeatedly broken.

And Brits have visited parks and DIY stores as the sun shone this weekend, despite repeated warnings for them to stay home.

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Police could increase on-the-spot fines for lockdown breakers after Home Secretary Priti Patel sounded out top officers about the proposals.

The Home Secretary begged fed-up Brits to respect the lockdown yesterday.

The UK today saw its smallest daily rise in coronavirus deaths this month.

A total of 20,732 have now lost their lives to the disease, with 413 deaths reported in 24 hours.

It is almost half yesterday's number of 813.

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