Lifeboat volunteers rescued a family of three from their stricken catamaran after it had lost its steering eight-miles off the coast.

The skipper, his wife and teenage daughter had suffered a total loss of steering when sailing north east of the Tongue Sand Tower off the Thanet coast on Tuesday night.

They called the RNLI for help, and the all-weather lifeboat was sent to the scene and made sure the trio were safe and well before towing the vessel back to Ramsgate harbour.