A family of four were towed back to shore after their yacht got into difficulties on the River Medway.

Members of the Sheerness RNLI lifeboat were called by the UK Coastguard yesterday evening after a 27ft yacht called Kristia, got into trouble in the Medway estuary.

The boat was unable to make headway against the fresh south-westerly wind in the estuary at the time and their problems were made worse when the craft’s engine failed leaving the yacht drifting.

The lifeboat was launched shortly before 8pm and the volunteer crew immediately established communications with the yacht and the family on board stated they were about two miles from Kingsnorth, near Hoo.

The yacht was actually drifting in the busy Medway approach channel when the lifeboat crew arrived on the scene at 8.20pm.

The family consisting of mum and dad and their two boys, age nine and 16, were upset by their experience with the boys being particularly frightened.

So a lifeboat crew member was placed on the yacht and mum and the two boys were taken on board the lifeboat.

A tow was established and the craft was then towed to the safety of Queenborough Harbour shortly after 9pm.