TWO sailors had an amazing escape when a luxury motor cruiser burst into flames in the Solent.

Yesterday's tea time drama happened off Browndown Point at the western end of Stokes Bay, near Gosport.

Police launches and the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service lifeboat were scrambled to the area at about 4.30pm.

Two men, who were believed to be in their forties and from the Isle of Wight, were on board the 34 feet Sealine craft. They were transferred to the mainland by police launch. They were not hurt but rather shaken by the ordeal.

The lifeboat ferried firefighters to the scene. But the fire had escalated to such an extent that a 200 metre exclusion zone was thrown around the £200,000 boat.

A gas canister had exploded shooting flames into the air and there were fears that more canisters would erupt.

A lifeboat spokesperson said: "The boat was well alight and there was lots of smoke billowing from the cabin area and the stern of the vessel."

By about 7pm the motor cruiser was sinking into the sea about half a mile off the beach.