Lifeboat takes yacht into harbour

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A 37ft (11m) yacht taking on water off the south coast has been rescued by a lifeboat crew from East Sussex.

The alarm was raised by the four people on board the Jitterbug, just off Pett Level, when they radioed Dover Coastguard at 0600 GMT on Sunday.

RNLI crewmen Steve Warne and Mark Tewksbery were put on board the yacht with a salvage pump.

The water level in the boat was reduced enough to allow it to make for Rye Harbour under its own steam.

The lifeboat escorted the yacht to safety.

"I'm glad we were able to reach this yacht quickly and get her back safely," said Hastings Lifeboat coxswain Martin Phillips.