Lifeboats were kept busy yesterday after a number of call outs, including two on the River Blackwater.

At 2.42pm, West Mersea RNLI Inshore Lifeboat set out following a report of a capsized dinghy off the Marconi sailing club.

Further investigations confirmed a safety boat had recovered a capsized Laser dinghy and taken three people ashore.

At 3.17pm, the lifeboat headed out to the Maylandsea area of the river following a report of a white flare.

A search was carried out with nothing untoward found.