Two sozzled sailors were arrested after being rescued from a dinghy dressed as pirates - armed with pistols, a cutlass and a bottle of rum.

The pie-eyed pranksters - sporting black beards, long curly wigs, waistcoats and tricorn hats - ran into trouble after heading out into the English Channel to "conquer the Isle of Wight".

After a few hours at sea the two pals ran out of steam prompting lifeboat crews to rush to the rescue off Selsey in West Sussex.

And back on dry land things went from bad to worse when the would-be pirates were ARRESTED for possessing offensive weapons.

The drama began when the holidaymakers were spotted launching from Medmerry Beach near Bunn Leisure Caravan Complex.

At about 9.30pm the boat, which was floating about half a mile west of Selsey bill point, was reported to Selsey Lifeboat Station.

The crew came across a small angling dinghy, which had broken down and had the drunken two sailors onboard.

They towed the dinghy back to shore where police officers were waiting for them.

The men, in their early twenties, were both arrested.

When they were safely aboard the boat crew members took pictures of the men, who were in full pirate apparel.

A spokesman for Selsey Lifeboat said: "They were off to conquer the Isle of Wight.

"We got the call out because people were reported in trouble in a dinghy so we went out to them.

"When we got there they were sitting in the boat quite happy.

"The police were waiting for them because they had a cutlass that was real.

"I think they had been having a damn good time all day and it ended with them decided to conquer the Isle of Wight.

"It was a bit of merriment for all involved."

The two men, believed to be holidaymakers from Reading, were released without charge.

Sergeant Chris Woollerton, of Sussex Police, said: "Two males were arrested for their own safety as much as anything else. When they were deemed fit and able they were released.

"They were kept for a suitable amount of time."

Sgt Woollerton said he didn't know exactly how much the two men had drunk but warned their actions, on July 31, could have resulted in tragedy.

He said: "The lifeboat rescued them because they were at significant risk. It was a bit of a prank that was all in good nature but could have had serious consequences. They were in danger of drifting into the shipping lane and never being seen again.

"Getting drunk and getting into a boat which is ill-equipped and sailing off into the night is one of the most dangerous things they could have done."

Do you know the two perilous pirates? Letus know below.