Lifeboat crews were scrambled from Amble

The Amble-based Girl Irene, called for help after its battery exploded, starting a fire in the engine room.

Amble's two lifeboats were scrambled to a position, four miles off the Northumberland coast on Thursday night.

One of the lifeboats used its hoses to pump sea water onto the trawler's deck, while the sole crewman was rescued.

Distress call

A spokesman for Amble lifeboat station, said the emergency services were alerted by a distress call from the Girl Irene at 2337 BST on Thursday.

A two-hour operation then began to get the skipper off the burning vessel and tow it - still ablaze - back to Amble.

The spokesman said: "The vessel's battery had blown up and started a fire in her engine room."

"On reaching the casualty first the inshore lifeboat Marjory Palmer, evacuated the vessel's skipper and transferred him to the all weather lifeboat The Four Boys.

"The all weather lifeboat then proceeded to cool the decks and hull of the Girl Irene with her fire hoses prior to taking her in tow for Amble harbour."

Fire crews then managed to put out the fire.