A lifeboat was diverted from engine trials this afternoon to pick up a windsurfer whose equipment had failed.

Electronic engineers from RNLI headquarters had installed upgrades to the computer systems aboard Diamond Jubilee and were leaving Sovereign Harbour with the volunteer crew to conduct trials.

As they reached the harbour entrance, Eastbourne RNLI were contacted by Dover Coastguard to inform them that the family of a windsurfer had reported that he was in trouble and could not right his board and had been in the water for some time.

In less than two minutes the crew was alongside the casualty and hauled him on board before being returned to the beach to be reunited with his family.

The wind-surf board was then recovered and it too was taken ashore to be reunited with its owner.