Burnham RNLI were tasked by the UK Coastguard last night after they received an 'ambiguous distress call' from an unidentified vessel.

Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI were tasked by the coastguard at 8.15pm on Monday, September 6 after they received the distress call on VHF channel 16 stating the vessel had broken down 2 miles out of Burnham with no power and had dropped anchor.

After communication was lost and and couldn't be re-established, both Burnham lifeboats were launched.

A Burnham RNLI spokesman said: "Both lifeboats from Burnham-on-Crouch were launched with the D class searching up river as far as Battlesbridge while the Atlantic class ‘Tony & Robert Britt’ searched down river as far as Inner Crouch buoy and then up the River Roach.

"Both lifeboats made contact with passing vessels and vessels at anchor but could not establish any sightings or further information."

South Woodham Ferrers Coastguard also carried out a shoreline search to no avail.

Eventually all were stood down with no sightings or further communication with the casualty vessel, and both lifeboats returned to station at around 11pm.

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