Lifeboat crews and an RAF rescue helicopter helped save the lives of five people when their yacht ran aground off the Kent coast.

The accident happened at around 1.30pm yesterday when the 36ft vessel became stuck on the Goodwin Sands, having left Ramsgate Harbour earlier in the day.

Ramsgate RNLI's inshore and all-weather lifeboats were launched but the volunteer crews decided that with the falling tide and shallow breaking seas around the yacht, it was too dangerous to attempt a rescue.

The coastguard asked the RNLI to attempt another rescue on the next rising tide but because this would have been after dark, a rescue helicopter was called in from RAF Wattisham, East Anglia.

All five people on board the yacht Liquid Fusion were airlifted to safety at 3.40pm. They were returned to shore at Kent International Airport, Manston, minutes later.

Attempts to refloat the stricken vessel were abandoned shortly after 6pm after it began to sink quickly.

Its location was reported to the coastguard and the wreck is expected to be marked with a buoy to warn passing ships later today.