Six rescued from boats

Six people were rescued from separate boating accidents in Northern Ireland on Monday night.

No-one was seriously injured in the incidents which took place at Belfast as well as Donaghadee and Strangford in County Down.

The coastguard answered three calls within the space of 35 minutes.

At about 1720 BST, two canoeists were brought to safety after their craft began to capsize in the gale force winds over Strangford Lough.

Pulled to safety

About 20 minutes later, the lifeboat at Donaghadee rushed to the aid of two men after the engine in their motor cruiser caught fire as it had been drifting towards rocks.

Shortly after that incident, a 999 call alerted the Belfast lifeboat to a capsized catamaran in Belfast Lough.

Two people were pulled to safety from that vessel.

The coastguard advised anyone who was thinking of going sailing to check weather reports before setting out.

Weather warning

Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued a warning of strong coastal winds around Northern Ireland.

They said that southwesterly winds, force six to seven, and occasionally gale force eight could be expected along the north coast on Tuesday morning and early afternoon.