LIFEBOAT volunteers were called away from a major fund-raising event by a rescue mission.

The annual water carnival at Polperro raises funds for Looe Lifeboat Station and Looe RNLI crew were at the boathouse ready to go to Saturday’s event with the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat when an emergency call came in from Falmouth Coastguards.

The crew were sent to help a 24ft cabin cruiser with engine failure off Rame Head.

The charity’s Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II headed East across Whitsand Bay.

The crew quickly found the cabin cruiser, with two people on board. A line was established and the cabin cruiser was towed back into Looe harbour.

By the time the inshore lifeboat returned to Looe, the crew had missed the Polperro raft race.

Looe RNLI lifeboat operations manager Dave Haines said: ‘This was the second year in a row when the Looe lifeboat had been called away from the water carnival to respond to a shout.

‘It was a shame that everyone in Polperro for the water carnival did not have the chance to see the Atlantic 85 and meet the crew but they can see at first hand how the funds they raise allow our volunteer crews to respond to these emergency calls.’