THE three crew members of a former military landing craft have been rescued following a mayday call in the Bristol Channel.

Burnham-on-Sea RNLI volunteers, Minehead and the Barry Dock off-shore lifeboat were called around 8.20pm on Saturday (April 16) to assist a landing craft that was struggling in the channel.

The vessel, which takes building materials to the Hinkley Point C power station under construction, had started to take on water. It had suffered bow door failure en-route into Watchet harbour and began taking on water.

A crew member was airlifted to hospital in Cardiff suffering from hypothermia after three lifeboats and a helicopter were scrambled to the scene.

It was decided to bring the landing craft, under it's own power to the safety of the Sailing Club pontoons in the River Brue.

The crew of Burnham RNLI lifeboat Staines Whitfield led the way while the Barry Dock lifeboat followed.

Once safely in the Brue the decision was taken to beach the vessel in the vicinity of the sailing club.

Burnham-on-Sea helmsman, Nick Edrich, said: "The landing craft crew were extremely relieved to receive lifeboat assistance, as sea was choppy and they had been taking on a lot of water. It was a long shout, but we were glad to help."