LIFEBOAT crews assisted a yacht which was dragging its anchor in the river Blackwater.

The West Mersea RNLI lifeboat and South Woodham Coastguard Team were called to yacht Aldebaran, with one person onboard, at 7.34am on Friday.

The coastguard team kept the vessel under observation while the lifeboat helped the skipper to raise the anchor and towed the yacht to a mooring in Mersea Quarters.