TWO yachts had to be towed to shore by lifeboat crews after becoming entangled in fishing gear.

A crew on board the 40ft ‘Ocean Gem’ yacht called the UK Coastguard for help on Friday night after their rudder became caught..

The vessel was close to the Swash Channel, near Old Harry Rocks.

Volunteers from Swanage Lifeboat Station were called out at 9.45pm to rescue the yacht and its crew.

The yacht was towed back to the lifeboat mooring for the night.

The following morning, the lifeboat crew had to rescue a 42ft yacht after its stern got entangled in fishing gear near Durlston Head.

A spokesperson for the crew said: "The lifeboat launched and made good speed for most of the passage to the casualty’s position, then poor visibility slowed progress a little. Once on scene, the lifeboat found Sundancer and her four crew to be firmly anchored stern to the tide. Various attempts were made to free her and, eventually, the vessel found herself floating free but unable to move her rudder or start her engine."

Due to very poor visibility, it took two hours for the yacht to be towed to Swanage Bay where it was secured to the lifeboat mooring.