Emergency services were called to a boat fire near a beauty spot off the north Norfolk coast.

Firefighters were sent to assist the coastguard following reports of a blaze on a small private vessel off Brancaster Staithe on Sunday (May 30) morning.

Eastern Daily Press: Rescue teams were called to Brancaster Staithe to deal with a boat fire near Scolt Head IslandRescue teams were called to Brancaster Staithe to deal with a boat fire near Scolt Head Island (Image: Marcus Stafford)

Just after 10am, crews from King's Lynn, Hunstanton and Heacham were sent to a waterway between Brancaster Quay and Scolt Head, an offshore island owned by the National Trust.

The coastguard arranged for a lifeboat to take the fire service out to the vessel, and they were joined by environmental protection units.

Eastern Daily Press: Crews were sent to a boat fire between Brancaster Staithe and Scolt Head IslandCrews were sent to a boat fire between Brancaster Staithe and Scolt Head Island (Image: National Trust)

Having dealt with the blaze, fire crews left the incident in the hands of the coastguard at around 11.22am.

Coastguards subsequently checked the welfare of those who had come off the boat.

Scolt Head Island is a small area of sand dunes, salt marsh, mud flats and shingle.

It is considered to be internationally important for bird life, including terns which breed there.

Eastern Daily Press: Rescue teams were called to Brancaster Staithe to deal with a boat fire near Scolt Head IslandRescue teams were called to Brancaster Staithe to deal with a boat fire near Scolt Head Island (Image: Marcus Stafford)

Eastern Daily Press: Rescue teams were called to Brancaster Staithe to deal with a boat fire near Scolt Head IslandRescue teams were called to Brancaster Staithe to deal with a boat fire near Scolt Head Island (Image: Marcus Stafford)