TWO people have been rescued by lifeboat crews after a four-hour search found their stricken vessel without power.

The coastguard helicopter along with lifeboat crews from Shoreham, Brighton, Selsey and Newhaven searched the coast of Worthing for the missing rib yesterday.

After four hours of searching, which began at 2.43am on Sunday, the boat and its crew were found by the rescue helicopter southeast of Shoreham.

The vessel had suffered an engine failure and two people were rescued while crews from RNLI Brighton towed the stricken boat to shore.

Newhaven Lifeboat returned to station and were back on pagers at 4.48am ready for service.

Also this weekend, on Saturday, August 21, Newhaven Lifeboat received two launch requests by HM Coastguard in just over an hour.

Both incidents were to unconnected vessels with engine failure.

The first tasking at 2.59pm was to assess the situation of a 6.5 metre fishing vessel with engine failure off Old Nore Point two miles west of Newhaven Harbour, 500 yards off shore.

Lee Blacknell, Newhaven’s duty Coxswain said: "The casualty vessel, with six persons on board, was holding on an electric anchor, but there was concern over the battery."

It was decided the safest course of action was to tow the casualty vessel into Newhaven, the closest harbour.

Shortly after returning the fishing vessel safely alongside, Newhaven Lifeboat picked up a VHF request for assistance by a vessel in Seaford Bay at Tidemills, just outside the bathing buoys.

The Lifeboat liaised with HM Coastguard and a second launch in just over an hour was made at 4pm.

Again the Lifeboat was tasked to assess the situation of the vessel suffering engine failure.

Coxswain Lee Blacknell and his volunteer crew set a tow, awaiting the Transmanche Dieppe ferry departure, before proceeding and putting the casualty vessel alongside at the visitor's pontoon.

Lewis Arnold, Newhaven’s Coxswain, said: "Situations can develop unexpectedly at sea.

"A vessel with engine failure is especially vulnerable.

"We are glad all three of our service calls in the last 24 hours have concluded positively."