LIFEBOAT crews were called to two incidents unfolding at the same time on Sunday.

Swanage RNLI's Shannon lifeboat was called by the UK Coastguard just after 10am to a 36ft yacht.

They had received reports from a passing boat that the yacht had anchored near Durlston Head with no one responding to calls or yells.

On being tasked to investigate, the lifeboat was called to a higher priority incident in which a 42ft powerboat was starting to sink near St Albans Head.

On route to the powerboat named 'Bula', the skipper of a fishing boat standing by said Bula's pumps could not cope, so the lifeboat's salvage pump was prepared.

Two lifeboat crew members boarded Bula with the pump to remove the water.

It was then towed towards Poole.

Crew found the leak caused by a split in its intake hose.

This allowed one engine to be restarted and one crew member stayed with the boat as it made its way back to shore unassisted.

The lifeboat then returned to the earlier yacht that had been near Durlston Head.

They found it had suffered engine failure in the strong tide and towed the vessel back to Poole.

No one was injured in either incident and the lifeboat returned to base just after 2pm.