A FISHING vessel crewed by two men in their 70s was towed to shore yesterday after getting into trouble in the Firth of Forth.

Kinghorn Lifeboat was called into action at around 11.30am after a mayday from the 32ft Dysart-based Margaret Jane, which suffered engine failure half a mile west of Inchkeith Island.

The lifeboat was launched in a strong south-westerly wind, blowing up the sea into a moderate to rough swell, and arrived on the scene within 10 minutes.

The volunteer crew of helmsman Paul Wibberly and Mike McErlane, along with trainee crew member Mark Brown, brought the stricken vessel under tow.

Mr McErlane said, “Our pagers were activated by the coastguard around 11.30am and by 11.40 we were drawing alongside the drifting boat.

“When their engine failed, rather than try to sort it, the crew sensibly decided to notify the coastguard as their boat was drifting and being blown towards Inchkeith Island and surrounding rocks.”