A family were rescued after their boat ran aground.

It is understood the family had left their motor boat to go kayaking in the area of Old Harry Rocks, near Studland, when the incident happened.

Nearby boats came to their aid after a Mayday call was issued and Swanage Lifeboat was launched.

It was the second job of the day in quick succession for the volunteer lifeboat crew.

A spokesman for Swanage Lifeboat said: "The motor boat had been towed to the north by a passing RIB and they were now making slow progress against the ebb tide. Two lifeboat crew were put aboard the motor boat to check for water ingress and to have a chat with the skipper to see what exactly had happened. A small angling boat was also at the scene, and they had recovered two adults and three children who were from the the stricken boat.

"They had been kayaking nearby when their boat went aground. They were taken aboard the lifeboat, dried off and warmed up in the wheelhouse. The crew on the motor boat had managed to restart the boat’s engines and after disconnecting the tow line they were able to get under way under their own steam.

"The lifeboat then escorted the casualty vessel in to Poole Harbour and the remaining crew were transferred back on to their boat just off Brownsea Island."

A couple of hours earlier on Friday the lifeboat, which had just been picked up from Poole after undergoing maintenance, was in action to investigate a broken down speedboat at the northern end of Studland Beach.

The lifeboat spokesman said: "The volunteers from Swanage Coastguard had located the stricken vessel and were able to guide the lifeboat to its position. The speedboat was in quite shallow water so the lifeboat approached carefully and transferred a tow rope across. The three person on board secured the rope and the boat was gently towed in to deeper water.

"After a quick chat with the speedboat’s crew it was agreed to tow the boat to Swanage."