A YACHT was towed to safety by the RNLI after suffering mechanical failure.

Hartlepool RNLI volunteer crew were paged at 6.25pm on Thursday to assist the 42ft yacht with two people on board that had suffered mechanical failure in Hartlepool Bay.

"The all-weather lifeboat launched at 6.36pm and was on scene with the casualty a few minutes later where the vessel was taken under tow to a mooring near Kafiga Landing," said a spokesman for the RNLI.

"The all-weather lifeboat returned to the Ferry Road lifeboat station at 7.25pm and was made ready for service by 7.35pm."