Fishing boat drifting after fire

SIX crewmen on board a Scottish white fish boat have been drifting in high seas off Shetland after a fire broke out in their engine room just before noon on Friday.

Shetland coastguard scrambled the Sumburgh-based helicopter and the Lerwick lifeboat was launched to help the Ullapool-registered Maranatha one and a half miles east of Unst.

Shortly afterwards the crew reported that they had regained some power in their engines, but a decision was taken to land a paramedic on board after some reported inhaling smoke.

The lifeboat was due to arrive at the scene around 2pm after steaming through rough seas as westerly winds gust up to 70mph.