WATCHET coastguards and a lifeboat from Minehead were called to Blue Anchor Bay at 6pm on Thursday when a man was spotted in difficulty in the water.

The coastguards found a 40-year-old kite boarder from Hove, Sussex, drifting just off the shoreline. He was unable to swim because of the weight of his harness and the strength of the incoming tide.

Two members of the coastguard team prepared to enter the water whilst the lifeboat continued to make its way to the scene.

The kite boarder had launched from the beach earlier, but ran into difficulty when the winds dropped and he was unable to get back on to his board and return to the shoreline.

The alarm was raised by a passer-by on the shoreline who was watching what was going on.

After being picked up by the lifeboat crew, the man was returned to Minehead where he was taken by coastguards for checks at the hospital's Accident and Emergency department. He was released shortly afterwards.

The coastguard issued a reminder to anyone taking part in activities afloat to ensure they have lifejackets and carry emergency aids such as flares, radios and whistles.

"Even the strongest swimmers find it difficult to survive for long in the dangerous waters around our coastline," said a spokesman.

l Minehead's Atlantic 75 lifeboat towed a stricken yacht to safety on Sunday afternoon after it suffered steering problems.

The yacht 'Rosie', which is owned by a Minehead man, had five people on board when a fault developed with the rudder two and a half miles north east of the town's harbour.

The lifeboat was launched at 4.50pm and crew members managed to attach a towing line to the yacht to bring her back to the harbour.

Minehead lifeboat honorary secretary Kevin Escott said: "This was just an unfortunate incident that could happen to any boat owner.

"We have no criticism of the owner and were pleased to assist."

l Three brothers had to be rescued off Porlock Weir when both engines on their 18ft fishing boat broke down on Wednesday.

The brothers, from Creech St Michael, had to be assisted back to shore by the coastguard with one of the men suffering from severe sea sickness.

The Atlantic 75 lifeboat was launched at 12.30pm after one of the men called the coastguard on his mobile phone and the boatmen were reunited with land at 3.30pm.