A FISHING boat's crew were rescued on Saturday after their vessel got into difficulties.

The Afon Wen was seen disabled in breaking seas by off-duty Redcar RNLI volunteer Cameron Bond.

He saw the 16ft fishing boat in difficulties at East Scar, opposite Zetland Park, Redcar, east Cleveland, at about 10.40am.

He raised the alarm and then helped crew the lifeboat that rescued the craft, which was towed to the beach at Redcar.

Mr Bond said: "The boat was obviously in danger where it was. The sea was breaking over the boat as the crew tried to start the engine."

By the time the Redcar lifeboat had launched, the crew of the fishing boat had restarted the engine, only for it to break down again as the lifeboat arrived.

Lifeboat helmsman Andy Beevis said: "The crew of the fishing boat have had a very lucky escape.

"Although the weather was not bad, the spot where they had broken down is very dangerous.

"They were in an area of the rocks called Jenny Leighs, and the sea was breaking over the boat. It could easily have been much worse for the crew.

"Luckily, they managed to get the engine restarted and they were able to find a way out of the rocks and escaped being completely swamped.

"If it had not been one of our own crew who spotted them, the danger of their situation might not have been realised so quickly and the outcome could have been very different."