COASTGUARDS were called after a fishing boat suffered a fire on board.

Portland Coastguard received a 999 call from the skipper of a 20 ft fishing boat called ‘Bad Obsession’ at just after half 5pm yesterday.

The fire on board the boat happened just outside the Portland Harbour entrance.

The two passengers on board, a man and his nine-year-old son, were towed by Weymouth RNLI Inshore Lifeboat back into the safety of Weymouth Marina where they were met by Wyke Coastguard Rescue Officers.

Portland Coastguard also intercepted a radio transmission which sounded like a mayday alert shortly before midday yesterday.

A very faint radio transmission on channel 16 was heard on the Hengistbury Head aerial, but coastguards believed it to sound similar to a mayday alert followed by a further message.

Investigations were made with a pan pan broadcast on the same channel, but no further information was gained.