One RNLI crew have been called out five times in the space of 48 hours.

The first call to the Ramsgate branch was made on Friday night and the lifeboat was launched to assist a 12m yacht with engine failure in the Ramsgate Approach Channel.

The yacht was thrown a line and towed to safety in the harbour.

Three more calls were made on Saturday.

The first came at 11.45am after two swimmers got into difficulty off the main sands.

A lifeguard had moved the pair out of immediate danger and all three people were then put onto the lifeboat and taken to the beach.

The next call came on Saturday afternoon at 4.38pm after a canoeist was reported to have been in difficulties one mile to the east of Dumpton Gap.

Again, the lifeboat went to assist with crews searching the coastline. When they reached Louisa Bay the coastguard informed the team the canoeist had returned safely to Broadstairs.

The third call on Saturday came at 7pm after reports were made of a lilo drifting near the approach channel.

Crews again went to assist and found a RIB with two people on who did not need assistance.

The fifth and final incident happened at 5.48pm last night.

Crews were called out to a vessel, reported to be in difficulty, between Louisa Bay and Viking Bay.

The RNLI found eight people on a boat drift fishing and confirmed they were not in difficulty before returning to the station.