All 17 passengers who were on board a British-flagged vessel that sank off the coast of a Greek island have been rescued, the local coastguard has said.

A number of boats were involved in the rescue operation, as were military helicopters, the coastguard added.

Despite the successful rescue, it is not yet known what caused the boat to sink off the north west of the island.

According to local media, the vessel was a yacht.

The coastguard said the passengers on board the boat were all Greek.

Milos is south east of Athens on Greece's mainland, and north of the major holiday island of Crete.

It's a relatively small island, only measuring 23km (14 miles) from east to west, and 13km (8.1 miles) from north to south.

It is known for its natural harbour and volcanic landscape, as well as being where the statue the Venus de Milo was discovered.