Volunteer life-savers launched from the Suffolk coast to rescue a sailor struggling against the wind and tide.

Aldeburgh RNLI received a call from the UK Coastguard at around 7.25am on Friday to reports of a 21ft sailing vessel in difficulty to the south of the lifeboat station.

The crew launched their all-weather lifeboat Freddie Cooper and arrived on the scene, south of the Whiting Bank.

Members found the sailor was having problems making way against the wind and tide.

An RNLI spokesman said the wind was “3-4”, which is slight-moderate, and the sea had reduced to a “slight chop”.

The crew left the scene at around 8.35am and escorted the vessel to safe haven in the River Ore, arriving soon after 9am.

The RNLI is a charity run by volunteers to provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the UK coastline from its 230 lifeboat stations.

It relies on public donations for its funding.