THREE people were assisted by a lifeboat crew after their yacht ran aground on the river Blackwater.

The West Mersea RNLI inshore lifeboat was called out to 37ft yacht Cadenza, which also had two dogs onboard, at 3.35pm on Saturday.

The yacht maintained hourly communication checks with the Thames Coastguard and later refloated on the incoming tide and made its way to Bradwell Marina.