Six people, including four children, were helped to safety in their stricken boat during a dramatic rescue operation.

Steve Bather and his children, Sam, nine, and Emily, seven, were in a friend's speedboat when the engine failed.

The family was with boat owner William Wootton, his daughter Madelaine, seven, and her friend Guy Harris, nine, when it cut out two miles off Littlehampton last night.

The families spent 45 minutes trying to restart the engine as darkness crept in and the tide began to go out. Their efforts proved fruitless and Mr Bather alerted coastguards and gave them their compass bearings.

The families were then escorted back to the shore at Littlehampton by lifeboatmen just after 7.30pm.

Mr Bather, from Rustington, near Littlehampton, said: "We always see the sign 'No bathers beyond this point' when we are at the harbour in Littlehampton, and because of our surname we always think it's bizarre. After what happened yesterday, it seems quite apt.

"We had gone out on William's speedboat from Littlehampton to go jet skiing but it was too choppy so we decided to take the boat to Worthing and back but on the way back the engine cut out.

"I began to get a little bit worried after we'd been there for 45 minutes.

"Our plan was to try to restart the engine after it had cooled down but that clearly wasn't going to happen. We put our anchor out and started setting up the radio.

"I was worried the kids were out late. At any moment they could start getting cold and asking questions and realise they were two miles out to sea and there wasn't a lot we could do.

"My daughter is very sensitive to the cold but she was fine. I think they all got a childish enjoyment and sense of adventure out of it when they realised we were in trouble.

"I phoned the coastguards on my mobile and we gave them our compass bearings. When the lifeboat arrived the crew knew there were four children on board so they were all smiles to put them at ease. I felt extremely guilty about it all. The lifeboat crew was so professional.

"They took me and the kids on their boat and one of the officers got into the William's speed boat with him. They managed to restart the engine just in time before the tide got too low.

"I don't think it's left a negative lasting effect on my children. Emily was more interested in getting her picture in the paper."