LIFEBOAT crews spent five hours on a mission to save a fishing boat from sinking.

The owners of the 28ft wooden vessel were trying to sail between Brightlingsea and Canvey Island but water began to enter the boat en route.

The skipper attempted to head inland to the nearest port of Burnham-on-Crouch while bailing water out of the boat.

The West Mersea Lifeboat crew was called at 2.20pm on Tuesday and arrived with a pump but water was still filling up the boat.

Crews called for help from the Burnham-on-Crouch Lifeboat crew and the teams worked together to get the boat safely to shore while bailing and pumping out water.

The coastguard had originally called the West Mersea team because it was believed the boat was closer to Bradwell.

The West Mersea crew returned to the station just after 7.30pm.