The volunteer crew at Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI were called upon yesterday evening to bring two people onboard a stranded motor cruiser to safety.

HM Coastguard called the team at around 5.45pm to assist the broken down cruiser.

The volunteers launched the Tony & Robert Britt Atlantic Class lifeboat in response, which is one of the fastest in the RNLI fleet.

It arrived on the scene at Roach Buoy in the River Roach, where the crew located the struggling cruiser.

A spokesperson for Burnham RNLI said: "Upon arrival, an RNLI crew member boarded the casualty to assess the situation.

"Following consultation, the RNLI volunteer helm made the decision that the safest way to assist the casualty was to take her under tow."

The crew quickly established a tow line and towed the cruiser with the people onboard into Burnham-on-Crouch - the nearest safe haven.