A RESCUE operation was launched after a 25ft yacht ran aground off the Poole coast on Sunday afternoon.

A spokesman from HM Coastguard said the alarm was raised at 4.25pm after the yacht became stuck at Hook Sands during low tide.

The vessel was reportedly keeling over.

The spokesman said the Poole RNLI inshore lifeboat, Poole RNLI all weather lifeboat and the Poole Coastguard team were launched to assist the yacht.

A spokesman from Poole RNLI said: “We monitored the situation from a look-out point at Sandbanks whilst the lib and alb from Poole pulled the vessel out to sea.

“Once the vessel was re-floated we were stood down and headed back to Baiter to monitor the low water.”