Rescued fishing crew charged with being drunk

A fishing boat crew who had to be rescued after their vessel started taking on water have been arrested and charged on suspicion of being drunk, the coastguard has said.

The crew of four were in waters off Campbeltown Loch, near the Kintyre Peninsula in the west of Scotland, when they issued a mayday call for immediate assistance at 2.30am today.

The Campbeltown RNLI lifeboat was launched and the Campbeltown Coastguard Rescue Team were sent to the scene.

A Royal Navy rescue helicopter from Prestwick was also scrambled.

Gary Young, watch manager at Belfast Coastguard, said: "Campbeltown lifeboat was quick to arrive on scene and safely transferred all four fishermen from their stricken vessel, with no reported injuries."

Later, a spokeswoman for Belfast Coastguard said: "The crew were breathalysed, arrested and charged by police in Campbeltown."

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: "Three men were arrested aged 38, 46 and 53 in connection with alleged offences under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003."

PA