A family was rescued yesterday after the motorboat they were sailing on suffered engine failure.

Port St Mary Lifeboat was called into action at 4.25pm after a call from Belfast Coastguard.

The 18 foot boat had broken down 400 yards behind the breakwater.

At the time of the call the lifeboat was on exercise at Langness around two miles away.

A local diving boat also attended the scene to help the vessel until the lifeboat arrived.

Two adults and one child were safely recovered by the lifeboat which towed the motorboat back to port.