Crew members were winched to safety from a ship sinking off the Kent coast.

The coastguard received a Mayday call from a cargo vessel that was taking in water just after 7pm last night.

The EMS Majestic, from Antigua and Barbuda, ran into trouble in the Dover Strait - the narrowest part of the English Channel - with seven crew on board.

Coastguard rescue helicopters based at Lee on Solent and Lydd were sent to the scene, along with the Eastbourne RNLI lifeboat.

Two crew members were airlifted from the vessel by the coastguard helicopter.

The stricken ship was then towed to safety by the tug, Thor Frigg.