Penlee’s RNLI lifeboat crew had a long, sleepless night after being called to help a trawler which had broken down 35 miles off the coast.

The crew of the all weather lifeboat Ivan Ellen launched at around 10pm on on a dark and windy Sunday night to help the Brixham beam trawler Kerrie Marie, which had suffered complete engine failure south of Newlyn.

An RNLI spokesperson said: "To complicate the operation the Kerrie Marie had suffered power failure with her rudder hard to port, which made towing her deadweight very difficult especially in the heavy swell, causing a good deal of extra stress on the tow-line.

"However they managed to make headway of around five knots, but it was a long and uncomfortable night for the volunteer crew, and they did not make it into Newlyn harbour – with the help of the inshore lifeboat Paul Alexander - until 7am, a good nine hours after launching.

"Fortunately they had the rest of Sunday to catch up on their sleep."