A lifeboat was launched this afternoon after a small boat began taking on water as it battled choppy seas and 25mph winds.

The three crew made a distress call to coastguards just before 3.30pm, reporting that they were off the coast of Redcar and heading towards their home port of Hartlepool.

The coastguard then lost communications with the five metre boat and became concerned for its crew.

The Redcar RNLI lifeboat was launched, carrying a salvage pump, and found the craft a mile north of the lifeboat station.

Dave Cocks, from Redcar RNLI, said: "When the lifeboat got alongside the boat it was clear that they were making very heavy weather.

"The seas were breaking over the bow of the boat. As fast as the crew were bailing the water out with a bucket the waves were filling up the boat again.

"Our volunteer helmsman reported to us that the crew were very concerned for their own safety.

"One of the three people aboard the boat was transferred to the lifeboat to lighten the waterlogged craft.

"The lifeboat then escorted the boat at slow speed until it arrived at Hartlepool, where it was met by coastguard officers.'