A lifeboat was launched after a man was spotted in a vehicle half-submerged in the sea.

His Range Rover had got stuck in the mud on the incoming tide and attempts were being made to tow it to safety.

But the Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat Buster was launched amid concerns for the safety of the driver and others trying to help him.

When the crew arrived they advised the man to return to the shore, which he did.

A spokesman said with the vehicle up to its axles in the mud attempts by shore-based vehicles to recover it proving unsuccessful for the safety of other beach users the crew removed the tow lines from the vehicle and assisted in getting them back to the shore.

The drama happened off the Shingle Bank in Minster at 12.37pm yesterday.

Having been totally submerged on the high tide it is believed the vehicle was successfully recovered on the next low water around 11.30pm.