Four men have been charged with affray after stowaways armed with iron tubes allegedly tried to take control of a cargo ship.

Samuel Jolumi, 26, Ishola Sunday, 27, Toheeb Popoola, 26, and Joberto McGee, 20, all of no fixed address, were detained under the Immigration Act after police and special forces boarded the Grande Tema after an incident in the Thames Estuary on Friday night.

Police were called to the vessel, which was sailing in circles near Margate, at around 9.15 that morning after concerns were raised for the crew's safety.

It is understood the stowaways, believed to be from Nigeria, wanted the Grande Tema to get closer to the Kent coast.

The ship was secured late on Friday night and taken to the Port of Tilbury in Essex just after 4.20am.

There were no reports of injuries.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "Four men have been charged with affray in connection with an incident on board a vessel in the Thames Estuary.

"They are all due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday, December 24."