Three lifeboats launched after fire breaks out on ferry in Channel

Irish Ferries says all passengers and crew are accounted for after flames discovered in engine room

Three lifeboats and a French salvage tug were launched after a fire broke out on board a ferry in the Channel.

Irish Ferries, which owns the vessel, said all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for after flames were discovered in the engine room of the Isle of Innisfree at about 5:30pm on Friday. The ferry was about halfway across the Channel on a journey from Dover to Calais.