A family who went to sea in yesterday's (Sunday's) atrocious weather was rescued by St Davids lifeboat after their boat ran into difficulties.

A father and his two young sons, aged eight and five, had gone down to Porthclais Harbour, to move their 16 foot boat from its lower moorings to the top of the harbour.

While trying to manoeuvre the boat the father, a local man, realised that the propellor of the fishing boat was fouled. Stuck in very choppy seas the father dialled 999 and clung onto another vessel's moorings, waiting for rescue.

Both St Davids lifeboats were launched. However, while proceeding to the incident at the south end of Ramsey Island the sea conditions were so rough that the inshore lifeboat was sent back to station.

The all weather lifeboat reached the stricken vessel and took the two children aboard, warming them up and giving them chocolate to lift their spirits. They then towed the fishing boat with the father still onboard, into a calmer part of the harbour where it was safely anchored.

The father and his sons were then taken ashore, with the lifeboat rehousing at 3:25pm.