Lifeboat crews were called to the aid of a yacht after it hit "a submerged object".

The 36ft craft with one person on board had run aground on an isolated sandbank around a mile off Birchington.

The coastguard was alerted at 4pm today, and Margate's RNLI team was sent to the scene near Hook Sands.

But soon after launching, the lifeboat was diverted to check on a jet-skier apparently in distress.

Another lifeboat was launched to help the yacht, which was joined by the original lifeboat when it was established all was well with the jet-ski.

The yacht had run aground close to low water and once on scene the lifeboat crew checked on the welfare of the occupant who was safe.

The lifeboat then put a line aboard the yacht to help it to refloat on the rising tide.

Once it was back on the water, it was escorted to Margate, where it continued its journey to Ramsgate.

Margate RNLI's lifeboat operations manager Derek Amas said: “The fine weather has led to a busy period for our volunteers including attending two yachts aground within a few days on offshore sandbanks which are to be found in the Thames Estuary.

"Seafarers should always notify the coastguard in such circumstances and of course if anyone sees anything at all untoward from shoreside dial 999 and ask for coastguard.”