Four rescued as boat hits rocks

The yacht hit rocks off the coast of Gigha, Scotland

Four people have been rescued from a Northern Ireland registered yacht which was blown onto rocks off the west coast of Scotland.

A Royal Navy helicopter winched the three men and a teenage boy from the deck of the Heather of Mourne vessel, near the island of Gigha, at about 0215 BST on Thursday.

The crew, who were asleep when the anchor broke, were taken to a hotel on the island where they are recovering after the incident.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster, Stuart Atkinson of Clyde Coastguard said the conditions had been very stormy.

"During the night we experienced strong winds gusting up to nearly gale force seven," he said.

"During this incident the helicopter reported to us that the waves were breaking up over the yacht and it was rolling from 45 degrees to 75 degrees," he said.