Burnham Lifeboat crew are urging river and sea users to be prepared after a weekend of incidents and changeable weather.

The crew were called out to seven separate vessels, starting with a 24 foot yacht with three crew on board who became stranded at Cliff Reach after their engine failed and they ran aground on Saturday afternoon.

At 5.50pm the Atlantic 75 lifeboat was launched again to a 45ft motor cruiser, the Union Jack, stranded at the outer Crouch after both its engines failed and whilst at the scene the lifeboat was diverted to another yacht that had run aground.

The crew were called out again in the evening to assist a sailing yacht which had sprung a leak and was taking in water and on Sunday they were called to two vessels in need of assistance - one which had run aground at the Outer Crouch and the other reporting a fuel blockage on its way to Walton-on-Naze.

Burnham Lifeboat spokeswoman Mandi Tickner said: "Over this weekend, sea and weather conditions were changing constantly and it is important that river and sea users always remember to be prepared for this by taking adequate supplies of food and drink,life-jackets and warm clothing."

This summer the RNLI is running a campaign, offering free sea safety advice for every type of sea user from anglers to windsurfers in the form of advertisements in water sports magazines and at clubs.

The RNLI also offers a free face-to-face safety check on board a boat.

Contact the freephone boat safety line on 0800 3280600

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