FOUR stranded anglers were rescued by New Brighton and Hoylake lifeboat crews after their small fishing boat broke down in Liverpool Bay.

Lifeboats were launched on Sunday afternoon after an alert by UK Coastguard on Sunday afternoon.

New Brighton RNLI's volunteer crew were tasked at 3.52pm set off on the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Norma Ethel Vinall and headed to the scene south of the Queen's Channel of the River Mersey.

Hoylake RNLI's volunteer crew was paged at at 4.29pm and the station's Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood headed swiftly to the scene.

New Brighton lifeboat Helm Dan Wardle said: "We found the fishing boat over a bank behind the channel’s retaining wall, also known as the revetment wall.

"It was in 1.5m breaking waves and getting close to going aground, so both it and those onboard were in a very perilous position.

"Once we'd freed the boat and in light of deteriorating sea conditions, we requested assistance from Hoylake RNLI.

"Our inshore lifeboat towed the casualty vessel as far as the entrance to the main channel."

Arriving on scene, the Hoylake and New Brighton crews liaised and prepared for the tow to be transferred to the all-weather lifeboat.

Once a towline was secured to the fishing boat by the Hoylake Lifeboat crew, the vessels headed into the River Mersey with New Brighton Lifeboat following in escort.

When the vessels had reached the shallow waters of New Brighton beach, the tow was passed back to New Brighton Lifeboat.

Dan continued: "Our lifeboat then towed the vessel in for our shore crew to bring it and its crew safely to land.

"This was a great example of RNLI teamwork in action and highlights the important role flanking stations have in supporting each other."

With the anglers and their boat safely ashore, Hoylake and New Brighton RNLI lifeboats stood down and returned to station.

Hoylake RNLI's deputy second coxswain Alistair Knowles said: "The fishing boat had broken down in a hazardous area of the River Mersey.

"The risks posed by the busy shipping lanes, the revetment wall, numerous shipwrecks and the poor weather meant that it was crucial to bring the vessel and those on board out of harm's way as quickly and safely as possible.

"The anglers and their boat were rescued thanks to the professionalism and teamwork between the two RNLI lifeboat crews."