Boat drifted out to sea.

A MAJOR search and rescue operation was averted after the owner of a drifting boat confirmed there had been no-one on board.

A member of the public contacted Craster RNLI lifeboat team last Friday night after spotting a small boat which appeared to be drifting several miles off the village harbour and not attempting to make for shore.

The D-Class lifeboat Joseph Hughes launched at 8.30pm guided by Craster auxiliary coastguard, and the person who contacted the team, using white parachute flares to improve visibility in the darkness.

A 15ft fishing boat was found four miles off the harbour unmanned and with several items of angling equipment on board, sparking fears the occupants might have fallen overboard.

Once confirmed that the boat was the one reported as missing and satisfied that no people were involved, the lifeboat towed it back to the harbour.

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