An RNLI lifeboat was called out to rescue a boat with gearbox failure.

The Morrell, Dungeness’ new £2 million lifeboat, was launched at 11.30am on Friday.

It went to help a 42ft yacht with gearbox failure, two miles east of Dungeness. The yacht was on its way from Dover to Eastbourne with two people on board.

Lifeboat coxswain Stuart Adams put one of his crew on board the yacht. It was realised that repairs could not be made to the gearbox, so the vessel was towed back to Dover.

Mr Adams said: “The two persons on board were well prepared for their passage and it was unfortunate that they could not resolve the problem that had developed with the gearbox, but they did the right thing in calling us.”