A vintage boat has been saved after running into trouble near the Sussex shoreline.

Selsey RNLI has disclosed its involvement in saving the Dunkirk Little Ship Letitia on August 17, following reports the vessel was flooding.

Letitia ranks among approximately 850 privately-owned craft that took part in Operation Dynamo, the evacuation popularly referred to as Dunkirk, which enabled hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers to escape French beaches during 1940.

The coastguard responded to a distress signal from the vessel after it started shipping water roughly two nautical miles to the south east of Selsey Bill.

Two individuals were aboard at the time.

Selsey RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat set off at 2.50pm and reached the location within seven minutes.

Following evaluation of the circumstances, the coxswain determined a crew member should board the Letitia carrying the RNLI’s salvage pump.

Water was seeping in through several open seams along the starboard flank, a situation worsened by the prevailing sea state.

Once the RNLI pump was deployed, the flooding was swiftly brought under control and the Letitia was guided toward Chichester Harbour.

The boat reached the harbour entrance at 4.33pm, where calmer conditions halted any additional water ingress.

Originally constructed as a fishing vessel, Letitia was launched in 1938.

It ceased fishing operations in 1990 and has since undergone repair and restoration, now fitted with sailing equipment for cruising purposes and occasional fishing trips.

The designation Little Ship encompasses all vessels that participated in the Dunkirk operation which were originally in private ownership.

These comprised commercial craft such as barges, fishing boats, and recreational steamers.