Four motorboaters were rescued from a burning 36ft boat on Sunday afternoon in Chichester Harbour.

Solent Coastguard were contacted by a nearby vessel at 1.00 pm to report that the motorboat, Rochford was on fire in Chichester Harbour.

Another vessel, Eskimo, then reported that they were alongside the motorboat and taking off its four crew.

The motorboat crew were taken off Eskimo by the Hayling Island RNLI crew and taken to Northney Marina. They were cold but otherwise unharmed.

Fire fighters from Hampshire Fire and Rescue were taken to the burning boat by Hayling Rescue Boat as it drifted towards shore. Portsmouth inshore lifeboat then transferred the fire fighters back ashore as the vessel approached Conigar Point.

The vessel grounded off Conigar Point where Hamsphire Fire and Rescue fought the blaze.

Tony Wheeler, Solent Coastguard Watch Manager said:

The four men, who were all local and in their 50s and 60s, were rescued within minutes of the fire starting and I am pleased to say that they are unharmed.