A Gravesend lifeboat crew made a bizarre discovery in the River Thames yesterday after reports of a body turned out to be a dead sheep.

The RNLI launched at 11.30am to help the London Coastguard after a body was reported in the water near Erith.

But when rescuers arrived they found it was actually a dead sheep that had been wrapped in a duvet.

Later the same day they were also called to help a tug in Gravesend Reach where a fire had broke out on board.

By the time they arrived another vessell had stopped to help and the fire was extinguished.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was due to engine problems.