Vendee Globe: Alex Thomson has to carry out repair work on his boat

British skipper Alex Thomson has carried out emergency repairs on his boat after hitting an unidentified object in the Indian Ocean in the Vendee Globe round-the-world race.

The collision happened on Sunday night and damaged one of the boat's two rudders and an electricity generator

The 37-year-old worked through the night on repairs.

"I have been unable to sail at 100% while managing this repair," Welsh-born Thomson said in a statement.

Thomson, 37, currently sits in fifth position in the prestigious non-stop solo race behind leader Francois Gabart, his French compatriots Armel Le Cleac'h and Jean-Pierre Dick and Swiss helmsman Bernard Stamm.

Thomson's statement added that he expected to have both rudders working again on Tuesday.

The Vendee Globe is a single-handed, non-stop round-the-world race, starting in France and covering 24,000 miles.