HELENSBURGH'S RNLI lifeboat crew was called out to a report of a vessel adrift or dragging its anchor on Sunday evening.

The Helensburgh station was contacted at 6.22pm by the UK coastguard, who asked the crew to confirm that there was no-one on board the vessel, which was reported to be located off Blairmore, near the Holy Loch and to have a tender attached.

The crew found that a 24-foot fishing boat, with no-one on board, had an anchor deployed, but that it was slowly drifting towards the shore.

Coastguard rescue teams from Dunoon and Greenock, along with Police Scotland and a Clyde Marine Unit police boat, joined the lifeboat in the search for those who had been on board.

After an extensive investigation and search of the area, it transpired that the vessel had developed engine problems and the two persons on board had been conveyed to Cardwell Bay by a passing good Samaritan in an orange RIB.

The vessel was secured to Blairmore pier; as its crew were found to be safe and well ashore all resources involved in the search were asked to stand down. 

The lifeboat reported ready for service again at 8.35pm.