SEA scouts rescued a yacht in distress off Watchet after a propellor cable snapped and left it drifting.

The Iona was drifting dangerously toward Doniford Bay when a small boat helped to check, but could not halt, the drift.

Western Marina staff on duty in Watchet Marina alerted members of Watchet Sea Scouts using a rigid inflatable boat.

The scouts were able to safely tow the stricken yacht into the marina.

Iona skipper Mike Elworthy via social media thanked everybody involved in the rescue and said the problem was a broken plastic bracket which kept the gearbox selector cable in place.

He said: “A huge thank you to the sea scouts and the skipper of the first boat which managed to get us out of danger.”