A lifeboat had to be launched in order to retrieve a drifting dinghy.

The vessel was unoccupied and floating in waters off West Mersea on Saturday evening.

West Mersea RNLI's inshore lifeboat was launched to retrieve the dinghy at 8.20pm, as Thames Coastguard believed it could pose a danger to other vessels due to the failing daylight.

The dinghy was returned to its owner.