A yacht was rescued after it got into difficulty near the Skerries.

The RNLI at Holyhead was initially called out last Friday morning when a member of the public reported a group of five kayakers appeared to be in trouble.

The all-weather lifeboat was sent to an area east of Cemaes, but shortly after launch, the Coastguard reported the kayakers were all well and simply sheltering from the strong winds.

The lifeboat was soon tasked to help another sailor, who had issued a pan-pan signal in need of urgent assistance south-west of the Skerries inlet.

The man had a problem with his mast, which meant he was unable to make any headway.

Reports that a person may be in the water were quickly found to be false when the lifeboat arrived. Instead, they found the yacht had lost a sail from the port side, which had then been blown under the vessel and caught in the rudder.

The sailor who had issued the pan-pan was also suffering from fatigue, with the strong winds and 2 to 3-metre seas leaving both the vessel and the sailor in a vulnerable position.

The yacht was towed to Holyhead harbour, where the inshore lifeboat was on hand to help - with a crew member plaed onboard to help the vessel and her sole sailor to safety. It was then placed on a mooring at Holyhead Sailing Club.

Mark Wade, coxswain at Holyhead RNLI, said: "The initial call to the kayakers was a false alarm with good intent. We then diverted to help this sailor on his yacht, who was well prepared with the correct equipment and a means of calling for help."

"The weather meant he got into difficulty, but he called for help in good time, and we were glad to be able to assist."