A SAFETY boat had to be scrambled this evening after two catamarans capsized near Brightlingsea, Essex.

Squally conditions caused two vessels to overturn around 7pm, leaving four people in the water.

One catamaran managed to right itself and returned to shore, while the other had to be retrieved by a safety boat from Brightlingsea Sailing Club.

A spokeswoman for Walton coastguard said: “It’s one of those freak weather things, it could have been caused by the warm weather.”