LIFEBOAT volunteers helped a man and his dog back to shore after their boat broke down at sea.

The Hartlepool RNLI crew was called at 7.10pm on Tuesday after an eight metre power boat suffered mechanical failure off Crimdon, on the east Durham coast. 

Stuart Lawson, who was on board the boat with dog Jinx has now thanked the team. 

Inshore lifeboat 'Solihull' and volunteer crew launched at 7.24pm and were alongside the casualty vessel at 7.31pm where it was taken under tow to Hartlepool Marina.

Inshore lifeboat helm Darren Killick said: "Once again this was a straight forward tow which is something we train to do on a regular basis and it was good to help Stuart and his dog 'Jinx' return to the marina safely."

Mr Lawson said: "The lads did a fantastic job and I'm very grateful."

The inshore lifeboat returned to the Ferry Road boathouse at 8.45pm and was refuelled and made ready for service by 9.00pm. Sea state was slight with a northerly wind.