A 20-foot fishing boat, which had sprung a leak, required a rescue operation off Gurnard over the weekend, involving two lifeboats, including the RNLI's Cowes boat.

Cowes lifeboat was launched around 11.30am on Saturday, December 4.

First on the scene was Hamble's independent lifeboat, already out in the Solent on exercise, whose crews found the leak came from the engines coolant pipe.

The elder of the two anglers aboard was transferred across to the Hamble lifeboat.

A Hamble crew member took his place on the fishing boat with a salvage pump. 

Water was removed using a bucket after a crewman from Cowes lifeboat joined them on the vessel. 

Eventually, Hamble towed the fishing boat against a strong tide to Trinity Landing, Cowes – shadowed by the Cowes lifeboat.