A man in his 20s was rescued by Walmer Lifeboat after falling into the sea off Deal Pier.

Walmer RNLI Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Donald McLauchlan, was tasked by Dover Coastguard on Friday to recover a person in the water near Deal Pier.

It launched at 11.10pm after reports that a man was in difficulty in the sea.

When they arrived they found a man aged approximately 25, sat on the steps with a life ring.

Press spokesman Tim Ash said: "It’s believed he had somehow fallen from the steps and was thrown a life ring by a passer-by. We can only assume he must have shouted for help and alerted someone nearby.

"He was able to use the life ring to get back to the steps and that’s where he was when the volunteer crew arrived. He seemed safe but was obviously wet and cold.

"The crew talked to him and checked him over to ensure he was not injured, then got him into the lifeboat and returned to the station where he was handed over to an ambulance crew from South East Coast Ambulance Service."

Last night, Walmer's Donald McLauchlan lifeboat had another call out to assist with a 24ft yacht which had broken down.

The yacht had broken down north west of the south west Goodwin Buoy.

On arriving on the scene Helmsman Andrew Howland put a crew member on board to secure a tow rope and assist the lone yachtsman on the tow back to Dover.

The yachtsman was well prepared with a life jacket and all safety equipment.

Once in Dover the yacht was secured alongside a pontoon at the Marina.