RNLI volunteers prevented a boat from crashing into a busy bridge after a rope had wrapped itself around the vessel’s propeller.

Six members from the Sheerness lifeboat team were called to the aid of a Thames sailing barge which was on course to hit the Kingsferry Bridge connecting the Isle of Sheppey to Sittingbourne.

Shortly after 10.30am yesterday the life-saving volunteers were tasked with assisting the boat after its propeller fouled.

A crew then launched at 10.45am and arrived at the scene 20 minutes later.

It was found a rope had been fouled around the vessel’s propeller, and so the lifeboat stood by until they had safely navigated through the bridge.

The people onboard the barge reported they were fine, and returned to the shore at 12.50pm.

It came less than 24 hours after lifeboat crews also rescued a 23-foot yacht blown onto rocks in high winds on Sheppey.

Two people were safely returned to land when a stricken vessel had been blown off course near Garrison Point Fort.