SIX crew members on a steel-carrying cargo ship have been plucked to safety after the vessel caught fire in the Channel about 14 miles off Ramsgate.

The emergency services were called out to the 1,600 tonne Sea Riss after a major blaze started in one of the Dutch-registered ship's funnels late last night. The vessel was on its way to Northfleet in North Kent from Dunkirk.

Dover Coastguard spokesman Barry Woodwood, said the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Sir Percival was first on the scene. He said: "Their firefighting team were put on board but unfortunately it was a little more than they could handle so we called out Kent Fire Brigade."

An RAF rescue helicopter flew the firefighters from Manston, near Margate, to help tackle the fire.

The fire crews were winched on board the ship, which was without power, shortly before 9pm last night. A coastguard helicopter and a Royal Navy vessel were scrambled as was a coastguard tug from Dover.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the ship's master tried to damp down the fire while the remainder of the crew gathered on the deck.

The fire was put out shortly before midnight. No one was injured. The ship was takien into Margate.

Senior Divisional Officer Neil Fowler, from Kent Fire Brigade, told KM-fm how the fire started...