A Royal Navy officer played a major part in a dramatic operation to rescue two fisherman to safety.

Lieutenant Jason Mullen, of Faringdon, who is second-in-command on the Royal Navy minehunter HMS Berkeley, was one of three sailors who boarded the fishermen's sinking boat off Torbay to help bale out water.

The 30-year-old damage control expert and two colleagues used a small pump and baling equipment to get rid of the water, which was gradually filling the boat and would have sunk it.

They then repaired the leak, which was caused by a bung coming loose from a pipe that pumps sea water around the engine to keep it cool.

Lt Mullen, a former pupil of Oxford Boys School, said: "The two men had been out on a day fishing trip.

"When we got to them they were not injured or particularly cold, but they were very tired from baling out the water.

They were very pleased to see us."

The commanding officer of HMS Berkeley, Lt Commander Richard Bowbrick, said: "We are always pleased to assist fellow seamen in trouble. I am very glad we arrived in time to avert a tragedy."

HMS Berkeley received a mayday call at 10am from the 26ft 4.5-tonne vessel, called Bears Watching, from two and a half miles away and arrived just 20 minutes later.

After the leak was repaired, the Brixham lifeboat towed the vessel into harbour.