Dinghy spotted adrift in the Solent

Crew and passengers on board the 8.15am Brittany Ferries vessel the Mont St Michel, which was on its way from Portsmouth to Caen, spotted the boat yesterday.

The captain reported the dinghy to the Coastguard, which said the boat had been reported missing from the Channel Islands a few days ago and had drifted into the shipping lanes of the English Channel.

The Brittany Ferries captain diverted towards the dinghy to verify that there was no-one on board, and then returned to his normal route.