An abandoned yacht has been spotted sinking near a Kent beach.

Shocked onlookers saw water filling the stricken vessel off Tankerton today.

Yacht sinks near Tankerton beach

Eyewitnesses Freya and Jason Rutt had been enjoying a walk along the beach when the boat started going under at about 3pm.

Mrs Rutt, 45, said: "I was walking along with my husband and there were three people standing in front of the boat.

"We went over to see if we could help and it was a mum and her two children.

"They weren’t really sure what was going on either.

"The boat was about three metres from the shoreline and it just began to sink in front of us."

The couple say a note had been left at the scene in a box by the coastguard, urging the boat's owners to let them know they are safe.

A spokesperson for the coastguard said they were called at about 4.40pm yesterday about a boat which had broken its moorings and washed ashore at Tankerton.

"Herne Bay coastguard rescue team was sent and secured the boat for collection by the owner," they said.

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