AN RNLI lifeboat was sent to rescue an unmanned yacht drifting towards the busy shipping lane off of Thorpe Bay.

The Southend RNLI lifeboat was launched just after 3pm on Thursday to rescue the 25ft sailing yacht.

RNLI spokesman Denis Freeman said: “We were called out to a vessel that had broken free of its moorings and was drifting towards the shipping channel, which was why we were called out as it could have caused damage to other marine users.

“We believe it broke free of its mooring at Westcliff and drifted around the pier.

“The yacht was towed back to a mooring at West Beach, Shoeburyness, because of the falling tide.”

The coastguard has been informed of the new mooring location.