VOLUNTEER lifeboat crew braved Force 7 winds to help rescue a yacht in trouble on Tuesday night.

Boats from both Whitby and Staithes RNLI were at sea for nearly three hours amid fears that the vessel - with four adults and a child aboard - could be driven onto the rocks.

The alarm was raised at 7.30pm after the yacht reported engine problems near Boulbycliffs, in east Cleveland.

Although the yacht regained power, there were concerns that she would face steering difficulties so both volunteer crews were tasked to escort her to her base in Hartlepool, where she was docked safely.

Whitby RNLI Coxswain Mike Russell said "They did the right thing to contact us once they started experiencing difficulties.

"The weather was getting progressively worse and we decided that although they were up and running again, the safest option was to escort the yacht back to port."

Another vessel, the DVS Curtis Marshall, also assisted with the initial search for the yacht.

The diving team, which had been working on repairs to the underwater pipe for Boulby potash mine, spotted the yacht on their passage back to Hartlepool.

"It was a lengthy operation in tricky wind conditions," said Sean Baxter, Deputy Launch Authority with Staithes and Runswick RNLI.