LIFEBOAT crews had a busy day on the Dorset coast including coming to the rescue of a broken down yacht on its way to Portland which ran into a strong tide as darkness fell.

In its second call of the day on Saturday - which saw lifeboat and coastguard heroes rescue sailors stuck in mud and conduct searches - Poole's Atlantic (inshore) Lifeboat went to the aid of four people on a 40ft classic-built yacht on their way from Haslar (Gosport) to Portland.

The yacht had suffered machinery failure and although the crew had managed to sail to safety towards Poole Harbour entrance, an 'extremely strong tide' prevented them going any further so they dropped anchor.

An RNLI spokesman said: "Unfortunately the tide turned and came in stronger which made recovery of the anchor impossible. The occupants on board were concerned as to whether they would be able to recover the mooring buoy safely.

"So the lifeboat was tasked, and when on scene the crew secured a tow then manoeuvred the yacht to enable recovery of the anchor.

"The lifeboat then brought the vessel safely back into the harbour and put them on the mooring at Brownsea to enable repairs to be completed.

The lifeboat had been out earlier in the day to recover a liferaft on rocks near to the railway line at Holes Bay and search the area for possible casualties. A report of a submerged fishing boat nearby also prompted another search of the area, but nothing was found.

Another lifeboat from Poole was launched later to rescue a vessel that ran aground in Holes Bay.

The 17ft Boston Whaler, with four people on-board, was discovered 'sat upon the mud, not going anywhere' according to the RNLI.

A spokesman said: "The lifeboat crew arrived on scene and assessed the situation, the casualties were okay but cold. Poole coastguard had also been deployed, so the lifeboat crew requested that the coastguards assist with the mud rescue.

"The lifeboat returned back to station and picked the Poole Coastguard volunteers up who had kitted themselves in their mud rescue kit, The lifeboat with coastguards on board returned back to the scene with the necessary equipment to try to extract the stricken vessel and extra blankets to keep the casualties warm.

"Coastguards and two lifeboat crew walked to the vessel and distributed blankets to the casualties as the temperature was dropping in the night air.

"One casualty was stretchered back to the inshore lifeboat, and as the tide was starting to shift, a decision was made to attach a long line to the vessel aground and wait for the tide to come back so that the lifeboat could pull it off. This it did and the lifeboat successfully re-floated the vessel and it came alongside.

"At this stage the Police Rib had also been deployed with a couple of lifeboat crew on-board to assist, it was standing by, then some of the casualties were transferred on-board the rib.

"The lifeboat took the stricken vessel back to Cobbs Quay and the lifeboat returned back to station."