A HOVERCRAFT rescued four people stuck in mud a mile off Southend as the tide was rising at night.

The Southend Pier night watchman alerted the coastguard to four people on the mud a mile from the shore at about 10.10pm yesterday.

Southend coastguard and Southend RNLI Hovercraft were launched.

The hovercraft located the group and brought them ashore, where minor first aid was given.