TWO people escaped unharmed after their 38ft motor cruiser caught fire in Studland Bay.

The blaze, caused by an electrical short circuit in the engine bay, destroyed the vessel, Sheer Grace, which was towed to sea by the Portland Coastguard.

Emergency services were called to the entrance to Poole Harbour just off Old Harry Rocks, at about 8.30am on August 15 after the two owners managed to clamber into a dinghy and were picked up by a passing yacht, which raised the alarm on a mobile phone.

Fire crews from Poole, Swanage and Wareham attended the incident as well as the Poole inshore and all weather lifeboats and the Swanage Coastguard rescue team.

Two firemen went out on a lifeboat to assess the situation, but the coastguard decided it would be best to leave the fire, as the boat could not be saved.

It was towed out to sea before it sank after being totally destroyed in the blaze.

Portland Coastguard watch manager Jim Anderson said: "The motor cruiser was towed out to deeper and safe waters by the Poole lifeboat, where it then burned itself out and sank safely.

"Our primary concern is that there has been no loss of life or injuries sustained and that the diesel on board the vessel is not flammable.

"However, a small amount of petrol and two small bottles of butane gas were on board, and they did present a risk of explosion."

First published: August 16