A lifeboat crew had to battle through gale force winds after two men reported a fire had broken out on a barge.

Gravesend RNLI were called into action on Thursday afternoon after the men, on board the barge, sounded the alarm close to Higham.

It is believed an engine fault caused the fire on board the barge, the Francesca Prior, which was travelling to London with a cargo of sand.

Lifeboat crew members helped ventilate the boat and clear the smoke before diverting it to the Port of London Authority’s Marine Services Depot at Denton Wharf, Gravesend.

Paul Frickey of Gravesend RNLI said: "The fire seemed to have been caused by faulty lagging around the engine exhaust system and had set parts of the accommodation area alight."

Firefighters from Thames-side station were also at Denton Wharf.