Two adults with two teenage girls were given some "very strong safety advice" after being rescued by the RNLI.

The Sheerness inshore lifeboat was launched at 10.50am on Good Friday after the four sailors got into difficulties between the Martello Tower and the Isle of Grain outfall.

The party, from Yorkshire, had set sail in a small open-topped boat without life-jackets, charts or radio. The motorboat later ran aground after losing its rudder.

RNLI spokesman Vic Booth said: "The lifeboat crew gave the four people some very strong safety advice about the dangers of going to sea without making full safety checks and having the correct equipment on board.

"The four had gone afloat with no life-jackets, charts or radio and were not suitably dressed for the conditions at sea."

The boat was towed to Queenborough all-tide landing and secured at 11.24am.

The girls were aged 15 and 17.

The lifeboat crew reached the stranded sailors within five minutes of the emergency call to Coastguards and were back on station by 11.40am.