A fishing boat that began to sink off the north coast of Scotland has been rescued by a lifeboat.

The Frem began taking on water in the Pentland Firth, just off Duncansby Head, Caithness, at around 4am on Thursday.

A mayday call was made by the two crewmen on board and the Thurso lifeboat and a coastguard helicopter were sent to the scene.

The rescue crews were able to get water pumps on board the Frew to stem the incoming water and the lifeboat towed the vessel to Scrabster Harbour.

A life raft that the crew had inflated in case they were forced to abandon ship was not used.

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