FOUR adults and two children were involved in a late-night sea rescue involving two Anglesey lifeboats after their stricken motorboat was found in difficulties 20 metres from the cliffs at Malltraeth.

The volunteer crew of the Beaumaris lifeboat launched at 8.20pm to help the 24 foot vessel which had initially been reported aground on the Caernarfon Bar.

The Beaumaris Inshore Atlantic 85 Lifeboat Annette Mary Liddington set off to the Caernarfon Bar after it was reported that, due to the weather conditions the motorboat was in danger of being damaged by the surf and one of the adults aboard might need medical assistance.

A search was undertaken, but the lifeboat was unable to locate the casualty craft At 8.54 pm, the volunteer crew of the Treaddur Bay lifeboat launched to assist the search. It was then believed that the boat was now in the Aberffraw area.

The distressed vessel did not have a working VHF aboard and communication was only possible by mobile phone, which meant the lifeboat crews could not track VHF signals.

Whilst the crew aboard the stricken vessel had a hand held flare, it was not visible to the lifeboats.

Both lifeboats set off a parachute flare, but were unseen. The second flare from the Treaddur Bay lifeboat was eventually seen by the vessel in distress which was found in the Malltraeth Bay area, about 20 metres from the cliffs.

A lifeboat spokesperson said: "The Beaumaris lifeboat went alongside the casualty craft and placed a crew member aboard who ensured that the two children and four adults on the boat needed no medical attention.

"The Beaumaris lifeboat escorted by the Treaddur Bay Lifeboat then did an alongside tow out of Malltraeth Bay."

A Beaumaris life boatman restarted the stricken vessel's engine, and the Beaumaris lifeboat stayed with the craft to escort her back into the Menai Strait. Meanwhile, the Treaddur Bay lifeboat returned to its station.

The motorboat was taken into Port Dinorwic marina and was met by members of the Bangor Mobile Coastguard Rescue Team who helped secure the vessel and transport the crew of the casually craft back to their vehicles at Port Penrhyn.

At 12.30am, the Beaumaris lifeboat returned to her station. It was back by12.45 am, washed down, refuelled and ready for service by 1.22am, allowing the volunteer crew to return home.