Lifeboat crews battled force eight winds to rescue two men from a stricken day boat.

Communicating only through a mobile phone, the volunteers from the Sheerness All Weather Lifeboat plucked the two to safety from an 18ft craft off the Kentish wind farm near Whitstable.

At times during the rescue, at around 11.30am yesterday, visibility was down to a quarter of a mile - with heavy seas and driving rain.

Neither man rescued had a lifejacket or suitable clothing - and their boat was left as it was too dangerous to board and tow.

They were landed ashore and taken to the Boathouse, and were collected by a relative.