Lifeboat tows yacht to Kirkwall

Kirkwall Lifeboat was called to the assistance of a yacht late on Friday night.

Shetland Coastguard received reports that The Halden — with seven people on board — was taking on water to the north east of Orkney.

The alarm was raised at 10.50pm when crew members used a mobile phone to call the Norwegian coastguard, who then alerted coastguards in Aberdeen and Shetland.

A Shetland Coastguard spokesman said: “They had been pumping out water and the lifeboat was initially requested to escort them back to Kirkwall. However, when they got out there they decided to secure a tow and pulled them back to Kirkwall where they were alongside at 5.28am.”