TWO people on board a burning vessel on The Solent were rescued in a joint operation involving Bembridge RNLI lifeboat the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.

At around 3.20pm this afternoon (Sunday), the Coastguard received a mayday alert reporting a a blaze in the engine room of a boat with a crew of two aboard on the Eastern Solent, near Hayling Island.

Bembridge Lifeboat was launched at 3.39pm to assist the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Lifeboat.

Both people on board were evacuated from the boat, which was well alight on their arrival.

Both crewmen rescued were uninjured, a Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson said.

Bembridge lifeboat then towed the vessel to an anchorage, which allowed both Hampshire Fire and Rescue as well as the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to attend by fire tug.

All vessels were advised to stay clear of the area while efforts to extinguish the blaze continued.