Drifting cruiser towed to safety

A cabin cruiser has been towed to safety after getting into difficulty off the Manx coast.

Douglas Lifeboat was launched to help the 30ft-long (9.1m) vessel after it suffered engine failure off Clay Head, just north of Douglas.

The two people on board were travelling from the Isle of Whithorn in Scotland to Douglas when the engine cut out.

The vessel was drifting in force four southerly winds at 1600 BST when it was towed to safety by the lifeboat crew.

It took an hour from the crew receiving the emergency call to tow the cruiser to safety at Douglas where it was met by coastguard officers.