E.on was forced to evacuate its workers to safety from its Robin Rigg offshore wind farm after a cable-laying barge broke free from its anchors in stormy seas.

Wind farm workers who became stranded on an unanchored barge in stormy seas off the coast of Cumbria were rescued, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

As per the information available, the 42 workers were aboard the UR 101 barge at the Robin Rigg wind farm, eight miles west of Maryport, when three of their four anchor cables snapped.

A spokesperson for the wind farm operator E.ON UK, the electricity and gas company, said the 270ft barge was laying cables between turbines at the Robin Rigg windfarm when its anchors worked free in 16ft seas. It was later anchored to a large tug to prevent it drifting. If the operation to re-anchor the vessel fails it will be towed out of the turbine field to prevent it colliding with the turbine foundations.

Located 9km out to sea in the Solway Firth, between England and Scotland, Robin Rigg will have 60 turbines once completed and a 180MW capacity. The firm, according to newenergyfocus.com, has said it hopes that the construction will not be delayed.