A yacht struggling off the Suffolk coast was towed to safety yesterday by a crew of volunteer life-savers.

The Aldeburgh RNLI launched its all-weather lifeboat, Freddie Cooper, following a UK Coastguard request to help the 32-foot vessel, which had one person onboard, and was said to be struggling to make headway against the tides and winds.

The crew arrived at the scene off Orford Ness, just after 3.10pm, where they found the yacht’s sail had become wrapped around its mast.

The rescuers attempted to tow it to safety in the River Ore, but found the waters too shallow, so continued onwards to Harwich.

On arrival at Harwich harbour, the yacht was released and able to use its engine to find safe haven.

The RNLI crew then returned to Aldeburgh, while their colleagues in Harwich were tasked to help another drifting yacht, which they towed to safety.