Two ships collided in the Dover Straits in the early hours of this morning.

Coastguard teams including the search and rescue helicopter, lifeboats and a French tug were all sent to the scene of the crash, 15 miles north east of Dover.

Both vessels - an oil tanker carrying nearly 38,000 tons of petrol and a bulk carrier - were damaged in the collision just after 2am.

None of the 49 crew from both ships - registered from Hong Kong with Indian and Chinese crews - were injured and all hands were accounted for.

Lifeboats from Dover and Ramsgate were called out at 2.42am and 2.37am, respectively.

The RNLI said conditions at the time were calm with a moderate wind.

The UK Coastguard carried out checks at the scene and no water was taken on board by either vessels nor was any pollution or fuel ditched into the water.

Seafrontier was left with a "hole above the water line and damage to the superstructure", the RNLI said.

French coastguard teams were also sent to the scene and posted a picture of the damage to the tanker saying there was no risk of pollution and the ships' hulls were intact.

The tanker, Seafrontier, was en route Puerto Barrios in Guatemala while the carrier, Huayang Endeavour, was travelling to Lagos in Nigeria.

Seafrontier was carrying 37,953 tonnes of gasoline and had 27 crew on board. Huayang Endeavour had 22 people on board and was "in ballast", the coastguard said.

A statement from the UK Coastguard said: "The Coastguard helicopter was sent to the scene, along with Dover and Ramsgate RNLI Lifeboats, in case evacuation was required.

"The helicopter remained with the vessels for a short while, reporting information back to the Coastguard, before returning to base. The lifeboats have also now left and the tug has arrived on scene."

Counter pollution and salvage surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are monitoring the situation.