A ship which lost power came wandering across the Thames in a collision course with Gravesend until tugs manage to pull it back.

Roll-on, roll-off vessel 'Grande Brasile' reported engine failure at 4.50pm yesterday as it made its way to Tilbury. Without power it began to drift.

It had one tug attached at the time, and another alongside.

Port of London Authority control officers diverted two other tugs to assist the 56,000 tonne ship.

The four Svitzer tugs and a PLA pilot successfully worked to stop the vessel drifting.

There was no damage, no pollution and no injuries as a result of the incident.

The ship was anchored temporarily off Gravesend and later moved to Tilbury.

PLA port control officers restricted vessel movements in the area while the incident was ongoing.

Enquiries are underway into the exact cause.

David Richards, the bar manager at Riva, a nearby Italian restaurant, said: "We got a call from the police, we were worried.

"It was around 15 to 20m from the bar, it was like a tower block."

The 22-year-old added: "The police asked us to evacuate the restaurant but as it was closed we didn't have to."

A spokesman for the Port of London Authority said: "It was a great result, a job well done. The tug crews did well."