Boat catches fire before sinking in Isles of Scilly

A rescue operation was launched after a boat caught fire on the Isles of Scilly before sinking.

The incident occurred on Friday morning in St Mary's harbour. Coastguard, RNLI and fire teams searched the boat and shore, but nobody was found - or injured - in connection with the fire.

Police will now start an investigation into the incident.

On its website page, Cornwall Fire and Rescue said: "At 01:23 calls were received to a boat on fire in the Harbour at Hugh Town St Mary's.

"Eleven firefighters on two appliances from St Mary's were mobilised along with St Martin crews being brought in to standby on station.

"RNLI and Coastguard crews were requested to attend to assist in getting fire crews out to the boat, the boat had sunk and the fire extinguished by the time that fire crews were able to access it.

"The vessel involved was a 16-foot rigid inflatable pleasure craft and teams on scene searched the wreckage and confirmed that no persons were involved in the fire.

"A coordinated search of the harbour area and beach was made by Fire, Coastguard and Lifeboat crews as a precaution but nothing was found. The part sunken vessel was recovered from its mooring alongside the harbour.

"This incident was handed over and left in the hands of the police."