Exmouth RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched in 'challenging conditions' on Sunday, after reports that a 50ft boat had 'total engine failure' off Bridport.

The all-weather lifeboat R & J Welburn helped Weymouth RNLI who had been paged by HM Coastguard at 2.34pm on October 6 to assist a 50ft motor vessel that had experienced total engine failure off Bridport.

Arriving alongside in their all-weather lifeboat Ernest & Mabel, Weymouth RNLI coxswain decided that for the safety of the boats occupants the best course of action would be take it under tow and return it to its home port of Exmouth.

After their Weymouth colleagues had towed the vessel for a number of hours, the volunteers at Exmouth RNLI were paged to launch their all-weather lifeboat, R&J Welburn, and assist them.

Both lifeboats met eight miles south of Sidmouth, where the Exmouth RNLI volunteers took over the tow. Unfortunately. Conditions were so challenging that it was decided it would not have been possible to safely enter the River Exe channel, so the decision was made to proceed to the next safest port of Brixham.

The lifeboat made the slow passage to Brixham where the casualty vessel was safely moored up.

Liam Pessel, Exmouth RNLI deputy launch authority, said: "Our crews then returned to Exmouth, finally arriving home and heading to their beds at 1am this morning.

"It was great teamwork from all the crew, including our shore crew, and a positive result in challenging conditions."