Men escape sailing accident

The pair, in their 30s and from Newcastle, were travelling to Brighton Marina from Emerald Quay, Shoreham Beach, on the motorcruiser Little Legs when smoke started coming from the engine on Monday.

One of the men opened the engine compartment to find a small fire on board which RNLI crews later said would have been likely to explode if left.

Another vessel helped the men who, by this time, had drifted to around one mile south of Ferry Road, Shoreham Beach.

The help boat was warned by Solent coastguard to stay clear because of the risk of an explosion.

Both men were able to put the fire out using a fire extinguisher and Shoreham inshore lifeboat towed them back to Emerald Quay. No one was injured and the motor cruiser suffered only minor damage.

Dave Cassan, spokesman for Shoreham lifeboats, said: "They were lucky it didn't explode because it could have been similar to the boats which burst into flames at Brighton Marina in November."