A BOAT in an 'increasingly dangerous' position with water rushing onboard has been rescued by lifeboat volunteers.

The Swanage all weather lifeboat was called out at 2.35pm on Saturday afternoon to reports of an angling boat that was stuck roughly three nautical miles south of St Albans Head after it got its anchor rope caught around its propeller.

The boat was taking on water and was in an 'increasingly dangerous' position as the tide rose.

A spokesman for Swanage Lifeboat said: "Swanage’s all weather lifeboat ‘George Thomas Lacy’ was requested to launch on Saturday afternoon. A 28-foot angling boat had called the UK Coastguard requesting assistance after they got their anchor rope caught around their propeller.

"The force of the tide rushing past the boat was causing water to come on to the deck of the boat and with the speed of the tide increasing for the next few hours their position was getting increasingly dangerous.

"The lifeboat launched and was soon alongside the stricken vessel. Their situation had changed slightly as the anchor had tripped and they were now drifting west with the tide towards St Albans Head.

"Before the boat could be taken in tow, the anchor rope either needed to be cut or pulled up so it didn’t get snagged on the way back to Poole. A crew member was put aboard the boat and, with the help of the skipper, they were able to pull the anchor rope to the surface and cut it.

"With the boat now drifting freely, the lifeboat’s tow rope was passed across and the slow tow home commenced. Due to the strong north easterly winds forecast overnight, it was decided to take the boat into Poole Harbour.

"After about two and a half hours of towing the boat past Old Harry Rocks, suddenly the remaining anchor rope came free from the angling boat’s propeller. The skipper radioed the lifeboat to tell them and they agreed to drop the towline and check to see if the boat could now make its own way unaided.

"The lifeboat escorted the boat for a few minutes and once the skipper was happy, the crew member was recovered and the Swanage volunteers returned to station finally arriving back on the slipway at 18:10."