Lifeboat crews were called to reports of someone struggling in the water – but it turned out to be a dead sheep.

The animal was found drifting off the coast near Sandown Castle in Deal.

Selfless crews put their Christmas Day dinners on hold to respond to the incident shortly after 1.30pm.

A quick launch saw team members arrive at the scene within three minutes.

It was agreed with the coastguard to let the dead sheep wash ashore on the wind and tide, to be dealt with by the appropriate authorities later.

Due to strong winds and poor sea conditions, a collapsing net and trailer attached to a tractor were required to pull the helm of the boat back to shore.

It was an eventful Christmas Day for Walmer's RNLI lifeboat crew, who had been called out just hours before to another incident.

Just after 10am, they were drafted in to help an empty inflatable boat which had been seen drifting in St Margaret’s Bay.

Numerous 999 calls were made to the Coastguard and the station’s Atlantic inshore lifeboat Donald McLauchlan was deployed.

The empty rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) was eventually found just outside the eastern entrance of Dover Harbour and was taken under tow into the harbour.

Walmer’s lifeboat operations manager, Denis Brophy, said: "Two shouts on Christmas Day is a first in my lifeboat career and I think a first for the station."

The station's area lifesaving manager, Allen Head, thanked the crew, as well as their families and friends, commenting that they had shown the "very best of selflessness" in their commitment.