A volunteer lifeboat crew helped save a Victorian sailing yacht after it suffered a leak and began taking on water.

Lowestoft's RNLI lifeboat was called to assist Leila – a historic gaff-rigged cutter moored at Lowestoft Harbour – just after 1pm today.

The 42-foot vessel was moored at Heritage Quay close to the town's lifeboat base, so crews were able to respond swiftly.

John Fox of the RNLI said: 'The lifeboat crew was mustered to help but we didn't need to launch the lifeboat as we could carry our salvage pump along the quay to the yacht.

'There was quite a lot of water below decks and it was above the floor level in the cabin.

'The pump worked well and with the majority of the water removed the yacht was then able to travel under its own power through the bridge to have the source of the leak investigated.'

The Leila, built in 1892, is now operated by a charitable trust as a sail training boat.

HM Coastguard Lowestoft and Southwold also attended the incident.