Police, a coastguard crew and a boat owner launched a two-hour search of the River Medway after reports a dinghy was stolen.

Four people have been arrested and bailed over the incident, which began just before 3am today.

The drama began when a boat owner near Sun Pier, Chatham, claimed to see his friend’s 10ft dingy being taken from their marina.

Richard Rodgers, deputy station officer for Medway Coastguard, said: “He went out in a fishing boat with an outboard engine on the back and followed them and called police.”

A police officer found the dinghy abandoned near Gas House Road, Rochester, with no sign of anyone nearby.

At 5am four people, believed to be three men and a woman in their 20s, were spoken to by police and coastguard crews in Canal Road, Strood.

The group, believed to be from London, were arrested on suspicion of burglary and taking without consent.

They have now been bailed pending further inquiries.