RNLI crew assisted a stranded yacht for more than eight hours.

Ramsgate's all weather lifeboat (AWB) launched at about 6.30am to help a 26-metre vessel which hydraulics completely failed 29 miles off the coast.

The yacht was unable to lower its sail or lift its keel, and so the RNLI team struggled until nearly 3pm to help the boat.

A spokesman for Ramsgate RNLI said: "The yacht was unable to lower its sails or lift its keel, which meant the yachts draught was 4.5m.

"The AWB escorted the yacht into the shelter of the land off Ramsgate, where attempts were made to lower the sail without success.

"The keel was lifted manually but with the sail still up the AWB escorted the yacht into Ramsgate Harbour where the lifeboat crew assisted mooring the yacht on a pontoon."