A COUPLE left stranded when their motor cruiser broke down were towed to safety by Minehead’s RNLI lifeboat crew on Wednesday evening.

The pair had set out from Watchet marina in late afternoon, but the boat developed an electrical fault and the engine could not be restarted for the return journey.

They called for help and Minehead’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat was alongside the cruiser off Doniford within 20 minutes.

Crew member Paul Hobbs entered the water to attach a line and remained on board the vessel while it was towed back to Watchet harbour.

Helmsman Richard Gay said: “It was a bit of a race against time because the tide was falling and the marina gate was due to close, but we made it with about 20 minutes to spare.”