TWO sailors were winched to safety by a rescue helicopter after a vessel ran aground off St Osyth.

Coastguards, the Coastguard Rescue 163 helicopter, West Mersea RNLI and the East of England Ambulance Service were called to the incident at about 9.15am on Wednesday.

Clacton Coastguard said the vessel ran aground at the entrance to St Osyth Creek.

The crew helped to set up a helicopter landing site at Brightlingsea .

A spokesman said: “A vessel had gone aground at the entrance to St Osyth Creek and with the West Mersea RNLI lifeboat unable to get near, Coastguard Rescue 163 was tasked to winch off the two people on board.

“Both casualties where landed at the helicopter landing site checked over by paramedics before being released with no further assistance required.”