A child and two dogs were among those rescued by volunteers from the RNLI.

The crew of the Sheerness all-weather lifeboat Judith Copping Joyce were called out twice yesterday (Saturday).

The lifeboat launched at 6.45pm after being called to a stranded 40ft motor cruiser that had suffered engine failure near Sun Pier, Chatham on the River Medway.

The crew located the craft at Chatham Reach with four adults, one child and a dog aboard.

Having attached a towline, the vessel was towed back to the safety of Chatham Maritime Marina visitors’ pontoon where they were met by Medway Coastguard Rescue Team at 8pm.

Earlier, the crew were asked by the UK Coastguard to help a Southend lifeboat team that was struggling with a heavy 40ft yacht in choppy seas, south of the Sea Reach Channel in the Thames Estuary.

They were called at 3.45pm and took over the tow – safely securing the yacht, with one sailor and one dog aboard, in Queenborough Harbour.

The lifeboat was named the Judith Copping Joyce in memory of a life-long supporter of and fundraiser for the RNLI.