Sailors in 'extremely lucky' rescue off Moelfre, Anglesey

Three merchant seamen have been rescued after drifting in a broken down boat off Anglesey for three hours.

The Irish sailors had been celebrating New Year's Eve at Moelfre and were returning to their ship at 02:30 GMT on Tuesday when they got into difficulty.

They were wearing lifejackets but had no distress flares or radios and eventually called coastguards at 05:30 GMT by mobile phone.

Holyhead Coastguard said the three sailors were "extremely lucky".

The men were found in their small boat after an extensive search by two lifeboats two miles east of Point Lynas, several miles from their intended destination.

The boat had filled with sea water and the three were cold.

They were taken aboard a lifeboat and returned to their ship which was anchored off Moelfre.