A MERCY mission launch by St Davids RNLI after reports of cries for help turned out to be an unusual case of mistaken identity.

The inshore lifeboat was launched on October 4 after reports of calls for help heard on the coastpath to the south of the lifeboat station.

St Davids Coastguard Rescue Team were also tasked.

The source of the suspected cries for help turned out to be an unusual one, seal pups.

Posting on Facebook, St Davids RNLI wrote: "As a search was being carried out of the area, the sounds were heard again with the first informants, the sounds heard were seal pups which were mistakenly thought to be calls for help.

"A false alarm with good intent."

This was the second seal-related incident in less than a month.

On the afternoon of September 12, the inshore lifeboat had been launched to search to the south of the lifeboat station after members of the public heard cries at the bottom of the cliff.

St Davids Rnli wrote: "During the search, a seal pup was found in a cove and the cries that were heard were the seal pup calling for its mother.

"After another cry, the sound was confirmed by the members of the public and the search was stood down and the lifeboat returned to station."