Four fishermen have praised their rescuers after they escaped from their boat just minutes before it sank off Shetland.

The crew of the Golden Sceptre were picked up by a rescue craft from the Havila Chieftain just before the vessel went down.

The four men from the Fraserburgh-registered boat were then winched on board a coastguard helicopter and flown to Shetland

Skipper Robert Tait said he and his crew wanted to thank the crew of the Havila Chieftain and Shetland Coastguard for their swift assistance.

The fishing boat, which had been operating 95 miles south-east of Shetland, was hit by an object at about 1330 BST on Sunday.

Pumps unable to cope

Mr Tait said: "We sprang a leak in the fish room when we were struck by a floating object. I don't know what it was, possibly a tree or a big log.

"We had two pumps on board, but they did not cope with the water," he said.

The coastguard alerted vessels in the area and a helicopter was sent to the scene.

Mr Tait and his crew - Jackie Tait, Gavin Buchan and John Barraclough - were forced to take to their liferaft.

Timely arrival

Minutes later, the Golden Sceptre sank below the waves - just two hours after being holed.

Gavin Buchan said: "Just minutes before we came off the boat we saw the emergency services coming.

"We evacuated the boat and we were glad to see that they were there, otherwise we don't know what would have happened."

The men were given a medical check-up before being transferred to Lerwick by helicopter.

Marine accident investigators are now making enquiries into the loss of the vessel.