TWO RNLI lifeboats were called out to help bring a sail training vessel safely back to port.

The Hartlepool all weather lifeboat 'Betty Huntbatch' was scrambled at 10.45am on Monday to assist the Whitby RNLI all weather lifeboat ‘George and Mary Webb’ berth a 120 ton sail training vessel that had suffered mechanical failure earlier in the day off Whitby.

The all weather lifeboat launched at 11.05am and was alongside the casualty at 11.15am.

The 35 metre vessel with 15 people on board was towed the short distance into Hartlepool at the town's deep water berth in Hartlepool docks.

First aid was administered by the Hartlepool lifeboat crew to two members of the sail training vessel for minor injuries where they were then transferred by the all weather lifeboat to the Ferry Road lifeboat station where awaiting paramedics further assessed their injuries before they were sent to hospital by ambulance.

Hartlepool RNLI second coxswain and station mechanic Garry Waugh said: "Due to the size of the vessel and the mechanical issue it had suffered we were able to assist Whitby lifeboat with the tow, berthing the boat safely and dealing with the two casualties.

"It was good teamwork all around and an incident that the volunteer crew members train for on a frequent basis."

Whitby RNLI lifeboat returned to its home port and Hartlepool RNLI lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for service by 1.20pm.