Lifeboat crews were called out to sea yesterday after a surfing kite was spotted floating without its owner.

HM Coastguard tasked the lifeboat early afternoon on Sunday after the kite was spotted by a passing ship, one mile southeast of the Dungeness lifeboat station.

Deputy volunteer second coxswain Steve Cardew, in command of the RNLI Shannon class lifeboat The Morrell, and volunteer crew were launched on service.

They headed to the position given of the kite but no casualty was seen accompanying it.

The kite was retrieved onto the lifeboat to avoid a shipping hazard, and a search pattern was put in place for the missing surfer.

Meanwhile, the owner of the kite had made his way safely to the shore and had seen the lifeboat being launched so ran along the beach to the boathouse to alert the station that he was safe.

The lifeboat returned to station and was made ready for service while the kite surfer and his kite were re-united.

Deputy second coxswain Cardew said: "This was a good outcome today but please always remember to contact the Coastguard on 999 if you get into any difficulties."