THE Holyhead lifeboat was called to help a 60 tonne yacht battling gales off the Anglesey coast at the height of Hurricane Hector.

The town's RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were roused from their beds at 12.30am, on Thursday morning, to help the 18 metre long vessel which had two people on board.

The all-weather lifeboat Christopher Pearce was launched after the yacht had suffered mechanical failure a mile and a half west of the Skerries lighthouse, approximately two miles from Carmel Head, Anglesey.

Arriving at the scene, the lifeboat crew found the yacht had lost all power, and was struggling to cope with the weather conditions, including southerly gale force winds and spring tides.

The lifeboat undertook a tow of the stricken boat, which was returning from the Isle of Man TT races back to her mooring at Holyhead.

The vessels arrived back at 4.30am, when the lifeboat returned to her berth at the inner harbour and was made ready for any further service.

Speaking on behalf of Holyhead RNLI, press officer Vicki Owens said:

"The weather was unseasonably rough, but our dedicated crew left their beds to help someone in trouble.’

"It’s always important that anyone in difficulty out at sea contacts the coastguard immediately by radio or on 999. We’d also remind people that it’s crucial to monitor local weather forecasts and take extra care in adverse conditions."