A historic paddle steamer has sunk in the Irish Sea on the way to its new owner.
Dramatic footage shows the MV Oliver Cromwell plunging bow first into the water 10 miles off South Stack, near Holyhead on Anglesey, Wales.
It had recently been renovated ahead of a £245,000 sale and was travelling to Northern Ireland to be given to the buyer.
She was moored at Gloucester Docks on Wednesday, but started to take on water off the Welsh coast on Friday.
Coastguards were called at 2.20pm yesterday but there was nothing they could do as the vessel sank bow-first into the water three hours later. No one was injured and no pollution was caused.
Dramatic footage shows the MV Oliver Cromwell plunging bow first into the water 10 miles off South Stack, near Holyhead on Anglesey, Wales
The MV Oliver Cromwell had recently been renovated ahead of its £245,000 to a buyer in Northern Ireland. Pictured: The vessel sinks off the Welsh coast in the Irish Sea
An RNLI spokesman said: ‘The call from UK Coastguard at 2.20pm cited a paddle steamer on tow towards Ireland taking on water approximately 10 miles west of South Stack.
‘Holyhead ‘s Severn class all-weather lifeboat Christopher Pearce launched immediately and headed to the scene, arriving there within 40 minutes.
‘On arriving at the scene, it was evident the 36 metre-vessel was in trouble and beginning to sink from the bow.
‘She was being towed by tug towards Ireland after a period in the south of England.’
Coastguards were called at 2.20pm yesterday but there was nothing they could do as the vessel sank bow-first into the water three hours later
RNLI coxswain Tony Price said: ‘It was very sad to see such a lovely vessel sink like that, but no-one was endangered and the lack of fuel on board meant there were no environmental issues.’
The Mississippi-style steamer was built as a Dutch barge in 1922 and was converted to a riverboat hotel in 1993, travelling between Gloucester and Worcester.
Before being sold she was operated by English Holiday Cruises.
Local Gloucester historian Chris Witts, 73, said: ‘The Oliver Cromwell boat left Sharpness on Wednesday on her way to Ireland as she had been bought.
‘I have been told that she did not make it to Dublin and has sunk today in the Irish sea. I think she struggled to make it up there.’
RNLI staff (pictured) were rushed to the scene, but there was nothing they could do