Diners on the Allen Gardiner had to be rescued by fire crews and the Coatdguard after the vessel broke down ran aground on the Shotley peninsula, last night

Emergency services from Holbrook and as far as Lowestoft, were called to help the river restaurant when it became stuck solid on the side of the River Orwell, just before 7pm Sunday evening.

Eight diners and three crew were rescued and taxied back to Ipswich.

Craig Ambury, owner of the Allen Gardiner, said it was the first times the vessel had broken down in the eight years it had been operating on the Orwell.

The Allen Gardiner was named after a missionary who starved to death after becoming shipwrecked off Argentina.

The cruiser was originally used in the Second World War by the South African navy before before turned into a restaurant at the turn of this century.

Busy weekend for Holbrook Coastguard

*Send us your article, review, community group newsletter via the black Nub it button on the home page.