Southend's coastguard teams were called into action in the early hours of this morning after reports of a drunk woman stuck in the mud. 

The coastguard received multiple calls at roughly 4.30am this morning with reports a person was struggling offshore in the mud opposite Rossi's Ice Cream Parloud. 

Teams rushed to the scene while the Southend Lifeboat and Southend Hovercraft were both put on standby. 

It appeared as though the woman had fallen off an "outlet pipe" and became stuck in the mud. 

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A spokesman for the coastguard said: "HM Coastguard Southend pagers went off at 4.30am with reports of a casualty struggling offshore in the mud opposite Rossi’s Ice Cream Parlour which was reported by one of our local bait diggers.

"RNLI Southend Lifeboat and Southend Hovercraft was put on standby awaiting Southend Coastguard reaching scene to assess the situation.

"Once on scene and, post speaking to the first informant, is appeared the casualty was inebriated and had fallen off the outlet pipe and was shouting for help.

"With eyes on the casualty the female then appeared to make their own way out of harms way and started to leave the scene and walking up stairs towards the Cliffs.

"As it was clear the casualty was no long in any danger, all teams were stood down and returned to station."