Jet ski riders had to be rescued by lifeboat crews after trying to push their broken down craft back to shore.

The pair got into trouble while swimming back to the beach yesterday evening near Birchington-on-Sea.

Margate RNLI was called at 5.30pm by the coastguard after a member of the public reported concerns for two people spotted in the water off Epple Bay.

The inshore lifeboat was launched to investigate and the riders were pulled from the sea.

The craft had drifted with the tide to a position off Westgate-on-Sea with two casualties in the water.

The jet ski was towed back to the launch site at Beresford Gap with the two people taken to shore on board the lifeboat.

Neither were harmed during their mishap but the incident has triggered a safety warning from the RNLI.

Paul Hodson, operations manager at Margate lifeboat station, said: "If your craft breaks down we urge you to remain on board and attempt to raise the alarm by attracting the attention of people ashore or using the recognised means of indicating you need assistance: flares, marine VHF radio or if close to shore via the 999 system to the coastguard from a mobile phone."

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