LIFEBOAT crews rescued two people after their 28ft motor cruiser caught fire off the Kent coast on Monday morning.

Whitstable Lifeboat was launched just before 10am after reports of the blaze in the engine compartment of Aurina one-and-a-half miles off Reculver.

Smouldering areas of the engine compartment were extinguished.

At around 10.20am the Margate Lifeboat arrived at the scene and took the Aurina's two occupants on board. The boat was then towed to Ramsgate.

It was the second time this month lifeboat crews have had to deal with motor cruiser fires.

Jaramundo suffered an engine compartment fire off Reculver on August 2 and also had to be towed to Ramsgate.