WIND and rain brought Bank Holiday chaos to the south.

Coastguards were put on full alert, ferry services were cancelled and one couple had a lucky escape when a tree came crashing through their caravan.

>A pair of yachts from France had to be towed safely into harbour after failing to stick to weather warnings and trying to cross The Channel.

Lifeboats from Bembridge and Selsey were sent out to aid the yachts late Sunday night after falling victim to the rough seas just south of the Isle of Wight.

Towing the troubled yachts to the mainland, both lifeboat crews were out at sea for more than ten hours helping to retrieve the vessels and tow them safely to Portsmouth and Selsey Harbour.

Yarmouth life boat was also on alert after a third vessel was unable to move against the tide and drifted from The Needles on the Isle of Wight towards Swanage and Weymouth along the Dorset coast.

The third yacht was then aided by Portland Coastguard and safely brought into harbour.

Yarmouth lifeboat crews have since dealt with two more vessels that came away from their moorings in Yarmouth Harbour.

Meanwhile at the Woodside Holiday Park at Wotton Bridge on the Island a couple had a lucky escape when a tree was blown through their caravan yesterday morning.

High winds also halted ferry services between Southampton and the Isle of Wight in the early hours of the morning.

Red Funnel cancelled car ferry services between midnight and 9am this morning but normal services between the ports have now resumed.