A search operation was launched to track down a fisherman after his boat got stuck on a wind turbine.

The coastguard and a lifeboat crew were scrambled to the Kentish Flats wind farm off Herne Bay.

Crews were called at about 8.30pm yesterday to a report an angler, who had been fishing from a small boat, became stranded on one of the turbines.

The Whitstable lifeboat Lewisco arrived at the scene, but there was no sign of either the person or vessel.

However, he was later found to have made his way back ashore.

A spokesman for Whitstable RNLI said: "The lifeboat arrived at the scene, however there was no sign of a person or vessel in the vicinity of the turbine given as the reported location by a member of the angler's family.

"The lifeboat crew received information the casualty had left the scene earlier so commenced a search towards the shore later sighting a craft west of the old Herne Bay Pier head.

"As a result of the low tide, the lifeboat was unable to proceed closer to the craft.

"However, the crew where able to direct the Herne Bay Coastguard Rescue Team to the area and they confirmed the vessel seen was the casualty.

"The lifeboat was then stood down from the incident and returned to station."

The coastguard also confirmed the fisherman had made his own way back ashore and that he was "OK".

Whitstable lifeboat crews responded to two other calls over the weekend.

Lewisco was launched shortly after 2am on Saturday following a report of concern for two people in a dinghy in the Swale near Leysdown.

But the lifeboat was stood down when the coastguard reported the casualties were ashore.

The crew were paged and called to the lifeboat station shortly after 7.30pm on Saturday after a report of a paddleboarder in difficulties near the Whitstable lifeboat station.

An RNLI spokesman said: "The lifeboat was held at readiness to launch whilst the paddleboarder was kept under observation heading back to the shore.

"The lifeboat was subsequently stood down from launching."

There has now been 17 call outs for the Whitstable lifeboat and its volunteer crews so far this year.