PORTLAND coastguards helped a boat that had run aground and a stranded sailor.

Yesterday lunch time Portland coastguards maintained communications with a cargo ship, the Sepehr Payam, while they did repairs on a broken fuel pump.

After they completed the repair they continued on their way.

At 12.47 Portland coastguards sent Poole lifeboat to help a vessel that had run aground at Swineham Point, Wareham Channel.

The hired 10ft rowing boat with an outboard motor was helped back to the boat hire centre.

Just before 3pm Portland coastguards were called about a drifting tender in Christchurch Harbour.

Enquiries were made and the owner was located, stranded on his yacht on its mooring.

The owner arranged for another vessel to collect him and the tender.