Hoylake lifeboat was in action yesterday assisting a 200-tonne beam trawler that had got into difficulties. 

The vessel was 38 miles North West of the station and had suffered machinery failure.

The lifeboat arrived on scene at 11.45am. A tow was secured and the boat made a course for Liverpool.

After proceeding ten miles, the trawler arranged a tow to Whitehaven.

Hoylake lifeboat headed north to rendezvous with another beam trawler, which took over the tow.

Coxswain Andy Dodd said: "We reached the casualty very quickly and in spite of the size of the vessel were able to tow her without any difficulty.

"The many hours of crew training coupled with our superb lifeboat and launching vehicle has meant that we can reach a vessel in difficulty faster than ever before and once on scene we are far more capable than ever.

"We are reaping the reward of the generosity of the public in giving to the RNLI."

The lifeboat returned to station at 4.45pm.