The Sheerness RNLI lifeboat was launched in the early hours of this morning after a distress call was picked up.

The electronic signal had been transmitted from Gillingham Reach in the River Medway at 3.17am.

The volunteer crew launched the all-weather lifeboat The George and Ivy Swanson to investigate the alert.

But the distress signal proved to be "nothing".

Second coxswain Paul Jarvis said: "An extensive search of the area was made using searchlights and direction finding equipment but nothing untoward was found and the ALB returned to station at 5.15 am".