The RNLI was called to the rescue after a fishing boat broke down off the north Norfolk coast.

Humber Coastguard tasked Sheringham's lifeboat to search for the Irene II at 5.30am this morning (Monday, July 15).

The boat, crewed by a single fisherman, had broken down about 1 mile west and half-a-mile offshore of Sheringham's Lifeboat Station.

But the rescuers, in a rigid inflatable lifeboat called The Oddfellows, were unable to restart the engine after finding the Irene II, so took it in tow back to Cromer, where it had left from.

As there was a heavy swell running and the tide was on the flood, the owner opted to fasten the prow of the boat to the Cromer Lifeboat outer buoy with an anchor off the stern to secure the fishing vessel when the ebb come through.

The lifeboat then returned to Sheringham's station with the fisherman on board, and he was eventually given a lift back to Cromer by one of the crew.

A spokesman said: "All safe and well, good service professionally completed."

The lifeboat was crewed by Liam Cooper, Paul Pretty and Andy Trend, and the helmsman was Tony Webster.