Two people had to be rescued from a yacht after it suffered engine failure.

An RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched from Sheerness last week following a request from the UK Coastguard.

The struggling yacht was identified by a crew of six just 20 minutes later, who found it to be lying at anchor in the Oaze Precautionary Area – a busy shipping route in the Thames Estuary.

A crew member was put onboard in order to attach a towline and check both people were safe following the incident which happened at 3.30pm last Monday (June 19)

The vessel was then in tow at 4.16pm, before it was secured at the Queenborough all-tide landing at 5.33pm.

The lifeboat was back on station and ready for further service at 6.00pm.