COASTGUARD tug Anglian Monarch went to the aid of a bulk carrier which went aground on the Varne Bank in the middle of the Dover Strait on Wednesday night

Doover Coastguard received a message from the 40,000-ton Lowland Main reporting its engines had stopped.

The Coastguard thought the ship may be aground on the Varne Bank during a low tide and the master of the vessel confirmed this was the situation.

The Anglian Monarch went to the scene, and the Coastguard broadcast messages to other ships in the area warning them of the danger.

It was re-floated on the next high tide and headed for Dorset to be inspected by divers.

The Lowland Maine was in ballast on passage from Dunkirk to Trembles in South America with 21 people on board.