A couple caught a rare sighting of “spectacular” dolphins playing and catching fish off the Kent coast while they were sailing their classic lifeboat.

Richard and Suzy Judge saw the mammals while taking tourists on a boat ride from Whitstable to Tankerton.

Mr Judge – who has worked on the seas all his life, firstly as a fisherman and then as a lifeguard – says the experience made for one of the best outings he’s ever had.

He said: “We were very pleased to see them. It’s a very rare sight around Whitstable – I don’t even remember the last time I saw dolphins in these waters.

“We’re used to seeing porpoises around here, and at first that’s what we thought they were, but eventually they came over to the side of the boat and we realised they were actually dolphins.”

The life-long Whitstable resident says he spotted the pod of four just off the coast of Seasalter yesterday afternoon.

He says the mammals were at least six feet in length and seemed to be enjoying themselves.

He added: “The dolphins seemed to be healthy, very active, catching fish and happily swimming along with the boat for a short while.”

Plenty of people commented on the photos of the dolphins, which the couple posted on Facebook.

“Wow, so jealous”, commented one user.

“Spectacular,” added another.

Mr and Mrs Judge run Whitstable Vintage Lifeboat Trips – a boat tour company offering tourists and residents a chance to observe the Kent coastline and some of its wildlife from the deck of a retired lifeboat.

Chiefton, as the boat is named, served as an RNLI lifeboat in Wales for more than 30 years between 1949 and 1982 before Mr Judge was able to buy it.

Mr Judge, 60, said: “I’d retired from the local lifeboat crew and was looking for a way to keep afloat and this boat came on the market and my wife and I decided to take the plunge and buy it.

“We’re been very pleased with it. When the weather is nice, it’s a very popular trip for people.

“I’m glad it was a particularly special day for the tourists that we had. They had a good time and took a lot of photos.”