A boat crew was rescued after their engine failed.

Volunteers from Weymouth lifeboat were called out just before 1am yesterday (Monday, April 22) to help the sailing crew who were stranded eight nautical miles off of Portland due to an engine failure and possible fuel leak.

The Duke of Kent 17-45 All Weather Lifeboat was launched and the lifeboat volunteers were able to locate the sailing boat shortly before 2am.

Once the lifeboat crew arrived at the boat, they checked to make sure that everybody was in good health before taking the boat under tow and bringing it safely back to Portland Marina where it was secured at 5.45am.

The volunteers returned to Weymouth Lifeboat station with the sun rising, where the All Weather Lifeboat was washed down and made ready for service once again.

A spokesperson for Weymouth Lifeboat said: “It was a long night for our volunteer crew,

just as they were settling down for the evening the pagers went off with a coastguard request to assist a sailing vessel, approximately eight nautical miles south west of Portland Bill with engine failure, and possible fuel leak.

Our volunteer crew assembled and launched the All Weather Lifeboat (The Duke of Kent 17-45), locating the vessel and on scene shortly before 2am.

All persons aboard were in good health and the sailing vessel was taken under tow and brought safely into Portland marina where it was made secure at approximately 5.45am.

“The crew returned to Weymouth lifeboat station with the sun rising, where the ALB was washed down and made ready for service.”

A spokesperson for Portland Bill Coastguard said: "We were tasked by Solent Coastguard to meet Weymouth All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) which had towed a vessel with engine failure into Portland Marina.

"The team assisted in securing the vessel alongside and conducted a welfare check of the two persons onboard.

"With both found to be fit and well the team returned to station."