Two children were among a group winched to safety by a helicopter during a dramatic seafront rescue in Herne Bay.

The youngsters - a boy and a girl - were on board a speedboat with two men and a woman when it became stuck in mud near Neptune's Arm on Sunday afternoon.

The group had been returning to shore but misjudged the tide, leaving them stranded.

The coastguard was alerted by foreshore teams at 5.30pm and an RAF Sea King helicopter was scrambled after a rescue across the soft mud was ruled out.

Crowds gathered to watch as a winchman was lowered onto the stricken boat and readied the group to be lifted off as the helicopter circled overhead.

By 7pm all five had been winched to safety by the chopper, which landed in Neptune's car park.

Local photographer Michael McLaughlin, of Central Parade, captured the drama in a series of stunning snaps.

He said: "I was at home on my day off and my flat overlooks the seafront.

"I had a friend visiting and as we were chatting I spotted the foreshore services' pick-up truck going along Neptune's Arm.

"I had a look through binoculars and saw the problem. I got my camera out and started snapping. The Herne Bay Coastguard were on the scene very quickly."

The stranded group - who are not local and were visiting Herne Bay for the day - were unhurt and did not require any medical treatment.

Speaking at the scene, coastguard Matt Stickels said: "We considered using our mud rescue equipment, but there was still some water about so the helicopter was the next best thing.

"The group did the right thing by calling for help and everyone was fine."