FIVE people were rescued from a speedboat which broke down last night (Friday).

The RNLI lifeboat crew from Minehead was called out at around 10.30pm after reports the vessel was in trouble about half a mile off Minehead Harbour.

"The lifeboat took the boat in tow but the tide was ebbing too quickly to reach the harbour so the speedboat was towed to a safe anchorage half a mile to the west and the crew ferried ashore," an RNLI spokesman said.

The operation was the third mission in a little over 48 hours for the volunteer crew.

On Thursday night, the station’s Atlantic 85 towed a broken-down rigid inflatable into Watchet Marina, while the D class was launched at the same time to check the local coastline for an overdue kayaker – who was later found safe and well.