A CATAMARAN was towed to safety by a passing vessel after drifting towards the chain ferry near to the entrance to Poole Harbour.

The wind had suddenly dropped and disappeared, leaving the vessel becalmed with no other means of propulsion, Poole inshore lifeboat was on its way to assist after one person on board the 15ft Hobie Cat radioed Solent Coastguard for help at 1.40pm on Sunday.

The lifeboat was stood down after the crew discovered the vessel was already being towed to the safety of Studland Bay.

At 6.30pm on Sunday the lifeboat was called out again to assist a 20ft vessel with a mechanical fault drifting one-and-a-half miles South of Old Harry.

The vessel, with three people on board, was drifting and the light was fading. The volunteers checked that al on board were well and took the stricken vessel back to Cobbs Quay.

The crew and lifeboat were back at the station just after 8.30pm.