A WORRIED member of the public alerted Thames Coastguard to an unidentified object in the water at Westcliff which was found to be the sail from a sunken yacht.

The person making the call at approximately 5.15pm yesterday said they thought the object may be a sail or vessel in distress.

The Southend Coastguard Rescue Team met the person reporting the incident and Southend RNLI Inshore Lifeboat was then guided to the location, to find a sail from yacht that had previously sunk on a mooring.

No persons were in any danger and efforts are being made to get this vessel removed.