Eight divers were rescued after becoming stranded.

Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat volunteer crew was tasked to assist the coastguard with a stranded diving vessel yesterday morning.

The crew was contacted by the coastguard at 11.45am to assist a dive boat that had suffered power failure. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat headed south from Lyme Regis for approximately three miles to the position of the stricken vessel. The crew set up a tow and returned the boat with the divers to the safety of Lyme Regis harbour.

Peter Glanvill, chairman of The Lyme Bay Sub Aqua Club, said: “We enjoyed a fantastic dive photographing the marine life on the wreck ‘Heroine’ with club members and some divers visiting from Leicester but it was a tad embarrassing when the engine would not start! We are extremely grateful to the RNLI for arriving so promptly and towing us back to Lyme.”

Lifeboat helm Tom Wallis added: 'The crew were very proficient which enabled a quick recovery for the divers and their boat”