Lifeboat crews have rescued a trawler crew which became stranded in the main shipping lane off the north Kent coast.

Crews battled in a six-hour rescue mission to help the disabled trawler yesterday.

The mission started yesterday afternoon when coastguards were contacted by onshore representatives of an 11m trawler which had reportedly suffered gearbox failure.

The trawler, with two people on board, was seven miles north of Margate in the main shipping lane.

Margate’s all-weather lifeboat took the trawler and crew - who were all safe and well - to Ramsgate harbour.