Three pensioners had to be rescued by a lifeboat crew after their cabin cruiser started sinking.

The men, from Allington, Rainham and Witham in Essex, were on a cruise from Wateringbury to the Isle of Sheppey.

Their 35ft cabin cruiser, Eric’s Choice, got into difficulties in the River Medway just off Thamesport, at around 5pm on Monday.

Sheerness Lifeboat coxwain Robin Castle said: “There was a problem with the sea water intake which is used to cool the engine. Water started pouring into the bottom of the boat but we managed to stop it sinking with the aid of a wooden bung and some jubilee clips and were able to tow the boat into Sheerness Docks.”