Destroyer HMS Southampton and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Diligence have been involved in a mercy mission in the Arabian Sea.

A 20ft boat was spotted bobbing in choppy waters by the Officer of the Watch aboard the destroyer, and when the warship went alongside the boat was found to be drifting with no power.

The 23 people on board claimed to be refugees from Iran, who had set out to seek a new life in Oman, the United Arab Emirates or Pakistan, but that after several days at sea their engine had failed.

They said that they had then drifted for several more days, with two of their number dying and being buried at sea.

When Southampton discovered them they had run out of food and water.

The crews of Southampton and Diligence, part of the RN task group in the Middle East for Operation Veritas, provided blankets, food and water, and restarted the engine.

The refugees were also offered the chance to take passage on board Diligence, which would have dropped them ashore, but the refugees - who were discovered in international waters - opted to continue their journey.