Launch ceremony cut short as new Montrose lifeboat called into action to rescue children

The new lifeboat at Montrose splashed into action to rescue a group of stranded children today before it was even officially launched.

A small fleet of rubber dinghies containing young sailors from the local yacht club were reported missing in the thick fog at lunchtime while taking part in a race on Montrose Basin.

The alarm was raised with the nearby RNLI station where the new vessel, named Nigel Kennedy, was about to embark on its maiden voyage in a special launch ceremony.

The ceremony was cut short, however, after the missing children were reported and the crew jumped into action.

The boats containing the youngsters were split up from the rest of their group through the heavy mist and isolated in the fog.

All parties were retrieved by the lifeboat and returned to shore with no injuries through the assistance of HM Coastguard Montrose.