THREE people have been rescued by lifeboat crews after their boat caught fire off the coast of Eastbourne.

Volunteer crews from the RNLI were paged at 4.14pm on Wednesday after receiving a mayday call from a 12-metre boat.

The motor cruiser had put out the distress signal after a fire broke out onboard near the Sovereign Light Tower.

Three people onboard the stricken vessel were taken off and transferred to the all weather Lifeboat.

Pictures taken from the shoreline show lifeboat crews towing the stricken vessel back to Sovereign Harbour where they were met by fire and rescue crews.

Sharing images of the vessel on Facebook, an Eastbourne RNLI spokesman said: "Our Volunteer Crew were paged on Wednesday at 4.15pm and requested to launch the all-weather lifeboat and the inshore lifeboat.

"The lifeboats were tasked to a 12-metre motor cruiser that had put out a Mayday because of a fire on board out near the Sovereign Light Tower.

"The inshore lifeboat arrived on scene and transferred Volunteer Crew Pete Needham onto the casualty vessel.

"The three persons on board the casualty vessel were taken off the vessel by the Inshore Lifeboat and transferred to the all weather lifeboat.

"The casualty vessel was then towed back by the all weather lifeboat into the safety of Sovereign Harbour where they were met by the fire service and local Coastguards."