THE all-weather lifeboat was launched from Whitby was launched yesterday morning (Saturday July 9) after a fishing boat suffered a mechanical failure near Robin Hood's Bay

The charity's volunteer crew were paged around 9.30am by Humber Coastguard who were alerted by the three men on board that they needed assistance.

The 24 foot fishing boat was in less than two meters of water near North cheek off Robin Hood's Bay

Station mechanic Richard Dowson said "Luckily due to the calm conditions it turned out to be a fairly routine tow job. If the conditions had been different the people on the boat could have been at risk but we managed to bring them safely back to Whitby harbour."

It returned to the harbour around 10.55am, was refuelled and made ready for service.