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A London Duck Tours boat has been evacuated after breaking down in the Thames.

Emergency services were called to the scene by Albert Embankment, close to MI6's headquarters and Vauxhall Bridge, at around 2.30pm.

A spokeswoman for London Fire Brigade said their fire boat helped tow the duck to St George's Wharf Pier and that there were 28 passengers and two staff on board at the time.

She added: "The fire crew helped them all safely disembark - there were no reports of any injuries."

Managing director of London Duck Tours, John Bigos, confirmed one of his vehicles, which takes in the capital's sights by road and river, had become stuck in the mud.

He said: "The facts are it got stuck in the mud - it is not the first time and it is possibly not the last time a duck will be stuck in the mud.

"In terms of dangers to passengers - it was absolutely none.

"We have a tractor that was held up on its way to help - as a result our captain rang the fire pier and asked if someone would be good enough to pull him back into the water.

"Because our tractor had not arrived, they gave us a tow out of the muddy Thames."

On the company's website, it states each yellow amphibious sightseeing vehicle has seats for 30 passengers and is "fitted with full safety equipment".

The police marine unit along with fire crews from Lambeth River, Lambeth, Clapham and Soho attended the incident, which was over by 3.23pm.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman told Mirror.co.uk: "The boat got stuck in the mud, so the London Fire Brigade and the marine police were called.

"The London Fire Brigade assisted with removing the boat from the mud and offloading the passengers from the boat."

Tomas Ramirez, 44, who works near to the launch site, said: "It was going out of the river and it got stuck on the stones before it reached the concrete ramp.

"It couldn't keep going because it wasn't powerful enough to get over the stones but was too high to go back in the water."

He said that people on board were having a "good time" despite the drama, and within half an hour the fire brigade towed the boat back into the water.

Each tour lasts an hour and a quarter, with around 30 minutes spent on the river. They are advertised as "the only way to experience the sights and sounds of Central London by road and river".

According to the company, each boat is modified to meet "stringent" safety regulations set by road and river authorities.

Each vessel has room for 30 passengers and is said to be fitted with full safety equipment.

The company claims that celebrity visitors who have been on board include fashion designer Victoria Beckham as well as film stars Daniel Radcliffe and Helena Bonham Carter.

(Image: Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly)

Pop singer Justin Bieber is also said to be a fan of the tours, which are partly based in the water and partly on land.

In September 2013, London Duck Tours halted all its boat trips after 30 passengers were rescued from a burning vessel.

(Image: Barcroft) (Image: Barcroft)

All 28 passengers desperately gripped on to the sides of the yellow boat as it billowed black smoke across the water.

Shocked onlookers watched as the terrified group swam to passing tour barges, leaving others clinging to the rails waiting for help.