THE Southampton-based tall ship Tenacious has been forced to abandon its current voyage after an engine room fire.

The Jubilee Sailing Trust ship was on its way to Milford on Sea from Southampton yesterday morning when crew members saw flames coming from the starboard engine.

Coastguards were alerted and two lifeboats were sent out to assist the vessel, which had 39 people on board, most of whom where disabled crew, with ten permanent staff.

A spokesman for Brixham coastguards said: "We alerted the Marine Response Incident Group at the outset of this incident. The master reported to us that his onboard firefighting teams were able to douse the fire."

The trust's engineering manager, Richard Walker, said that the emergency drill worked and no one was injured or at any time exposed to danger.

Tenacious is now on its way to Portland in Dorset, where the damage will be assessed.