The crew of the 'Spinningdale' which grounded on rocks off the Hebridean islands earlier today is back on dry land.

The eleven Spaniards, including the Galician captain, and three Portuguese, are shaken up, and four are being treated for hypothermia.

According to initial reports, the British-registered vessel came to grief at the foot of cliffs near Village Bay on St. Kilda island as a result of the violent storms and gale-force winds that are currently affecting the whole of northern Britain.

Now that the crew is safe, concern has switched to the possible environmental impact amid fears that the trawler, which is carrying 8,000 litres of fuel oil and 450 litres of lubricating oil, might break up.

In a separate incident, 23 people have been rescued from the 'Riverdance' ferry that was beached by a freak wave near Blackpool (photo) last night.