Crews rescued from two ships off British coast

The continuing storms have sparked rescues on the high seas. Two crews have been forced to abandon ship off the coast of Britain.

Seamen aboard the French fishing vessel, Le Perrain, have been rescued by an RAF helicopter about 250 miles north west of the Outer Hebrides.

She was being battered by 70 mile per hour winds and 30 foot high waves.

Meanwhile off Cornwall, the 16 crew of a Russian cargo ship have been airlifted off their vessel, which is in danger of sinking.

The ship is listing at 45 degrees and is carrying a cargo of timber which the crew tried to dump in an effort to retrieve the list.