Lifeboat crews have rescued a man and woman who were attempting to reach Essex in a wooden dinghy.

The pair ran into trouble in the sea off Whitstable yesterday afternoon as they attempted to sail the 25km journey from Faversham.

Whitstable lifeboat was launched shortly before 4pm, at the request of Dover Coastguard.

An RNLI spokesman said: "Concerns had been expressed for a sailing vessel struggling to ‘make way’ against the tide in the light breeze in the vicinity of the Kentish Flats wind farm."

Lifeboat volunteers located a man and woman in need of help, aboard a three-metre wooden sailing dinghy.

The pair had set out from Oare Creek in Faversham earlier in the day, with the intention of sailing to Essex, where they live.

The RNLI spokesman said: "The craft was taken under tow for Whitstable, the nearest safe and suitable port, moored offshore with the occupants intending to make their own way ashore and spend the night in Whitstable before continuing on their voyage to Essex."

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