A LIFEBOAT that drifted across Morecambe Bay and into Heysham Channel was picked up by the RNLI. 

Volunteers from Morecambe RNLI said that they were called to service to reports of a ship's lifeboat drifting across the channel possibly with people on board at 2.07pm on Wednesday, April 10. 

The lifeboat was searched but nobody was found on board. The inshore lifeboat service stayed with the lifeboat to ensure vessels could safely make passage into Heysham Harbour. 

A spokesperson from the Morecambe Lifeboat team said: "The ILB and its volunteer crew members returned to station at 3.45pm and prepared the craft for her next call to service.

The Mail: Where the lifeboat likely was before being cast adriftWhere the lifeboat likely was before being cast adrift (Image: Google Maps)

"If you see anything suspicious within Morecambe Bay, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard." 

The vessel was likely the one abandoned on Roa Island with distinctive graffiti on its starboard side matching images of a lifeboat seen by this publication that had been left on the beach near the road. 

The ship's lifeboat is even visible on satellite images provided by Google Maps. 

On April 10 there was a flood alert for low-lying areas around Morecambe Bay due to spring tides, low pressure and strong winds. High tide was forecast for 1.15pm on that day, with the callout being less than an hour later.