A DRILLING platform anchored off Thanet was washed ashore early today after it broke its its moorings in high winds.

A jack-up barge anchored off Foreness Point near Margate broke up at around 7am. It became unmoored when the barge platform came off its three-tonne legs.

The barge, carrying out survey work for Southern Water, became beached at Cliftonville.

Nobody one was hurt. The crew had been warned about bad weather and had already been evacuated from the barge by the time it broke away. Work is going ahead to retrieve the barge.