Six rescued from blaze on yacht

The yacht blaze was visible from Brighton and Shoreham

Six people have been rescued from their motor yacht that burst into flames two miles off the coast in West Sussex.

Solent coastguard said the 35ft vessel had a full tank of fuel and had to be left to burn itself out in the water.

The people on the boat, near Shoreham, were rescued by a fishing boat and lifeboats from Brighton and Shoreham.

A coastguard spokesman said no-one was injured in the blaze, which started in the engine room. Witnesses said the blaze could be seen from Brighton.

Emergency teams were alerted by a person who saw the blaze from the shore, and received at the same time a distress call from the yacht, called Cloudbreak.

A Mayday signal was broadcast by coastguards to alert all boats in the area, including the merchant dredger City of Chichester, to assist.

But all vessels had to stand down because the boat was well-alight and they were unable to approach.