A MOTORCRUISER which broke free from its moorings on the River Medina in high winds was retrieved by an RNLI crew on the Isle of Wight amid concerns it would collide with yachts in Cowes.

During yesterday afternoon's (Saturday) stormy conditions, which hit the Island following yellow Met Office weather warnings, the rogue 25ft vessel came adrift from its moorings at The Folly, Whippingham.

Cowes RNLI lifeboat was subsequently launched just before 6pm following an emergency call from the public to the coastguard.

Caught in an ebb tide with strong, gusting south south-easterly winds, the motorcruiser was drifting downstream towards Cowes, with a real danger it could collide and damage yachts moored there, a Cowes RNLI spokesman said.

The lifeboat crew reached the unmanned boat further up the River Medina and towed it back to The Folly's mooring site.