MINEHEAD lifeboat was called out on Sunday when the tide proved too powerful for a fishing boat with engine failure.

The 26ft boat 'Tescador', which had left Watchet harbour with three men on board, ran into difficulties near to Lilstock. The boat's owner dropped anchor but, because of the strength of the flooding tide, the anchor would not hold and the Tescador was being dragged up the channel.

Minehead lifeboat, with helmsman Steve Wright in charge, was launched at 4pm at the request of the coastguard at Swansea and took the fishing boat in tow.

Because of the prevailing conditions, it was decided to tow the boat to Weston-super-Mare where it was secured on the lifeboat station slipway.

The three fishermen were from Weston-super-Mare and the town's lifeboat crew provided hot drinks for them as Minehead crew returned to base, arriving at 8.15pm.