A volunteer RNLI crew from Barrow lifeboat station were called out to help a stricken yacht.

The team launched their all-weather lifeboat on the afternoon of March 7 to assist the vessel which was heading for Fleetwood.

The call for assistance came through from the Coastguard at 3:52pm with a request to go to the aid of a 40-foot yacht that had got into difficulty six miles west of Haverigg.

A spokesperson from the lifeboat station said: "The crew was paged and the all-weather lifeboat, ‘Grace Dixon’, was launched at 4:15pm under the command of Coxswain, Shaun Charnley and five members of crew.

"The lifeboat reached the scene at 5:00pm and took over from the windfarm crew transfer vessel, ‘Rix Panther’, which had also gone to assist."

The Mail: The yacht that needed savingThe yacht that needed saving (Image: Barrow RNLI)

The crew of two on the yacht had to cut their anchor free to continue their passage and, as a precaution, the lifeboat escorted them for the remainder of their voyage.

Both vessels arrived at Fleetwood at 8:26pm and with the yacht safe, the lifeboat proceeded back to Barrow where it arrived at 9:10pm.

The ‘Grace Dixon’ was rehoused by the waiting shore crew and made ready for the next call-out.

Read more: RNLI's Barrow lifeboat station celebrates 200 years of saving lives | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)

The incident came in the same week that the RNLI was celebrating its 200th anniversary, further showcasing that the organisation is as vital as ever.

Crews and lifeguards have saved a total 146,277 lives during its two centuries across the country, and they do not look to be stopping anytime soon.