LYME Regis fire chief Virgil Turner called for help from the town’s RNLI lifeboat crew when his cruiser caught fire four miles off the coast.

Mr Turner, Dorset Fire and Rescue Service station commander, was on a fishing expedition with a friend today, September 26, when he raised the alarm.

He said:“It seems there was an oil leak on to the engine and suddenly there was an awful lot of black smoke. I didn’t want to take any chances, so called the coastguard who alerted the lifeboat.”

The lifeboat was launched at 2.18pm but by the time Lyme Regis coastguards reached the boat the fire had died down.

Mr Turner added: “The smoke soon died down, and I didn’t even need the fire extinguisher.

“We had a tremendous service from the coastguards and my friends, the volunteers with the RNLI in Lyme Regis.

“But I’m sorry I didn’t even have time to get my fishing rods out before we had the problem.

“And to be honest if I could have swum back with the tow rope between my teeth I would have done, rather than bother my colleagues in the RNLI - but four miles would have taken some swimming.”

The lifeboat towed the cruiser with Mr Turner and friend, Barry Trott, aboard to the safety of Lyme Regis Harbour.

Lifeboat volunteer helmsman, Tim Edwards said: “We were delighted to be of assistance to our local fire chief.”