Crew on board the Irish Naval vessel the LÉ Niamh have rescued almost 500 migrants stranded in the Mediterranean in the last two days.

The ship is into its second week of its mission after taking over from the LÉ Eithne.

Yesterday it rescued 358 migrants who were stuck on a wooden barge 110km north-west of Tripoli in Libya

While this morning it was involved in an operation with two Italian Coast Guard vessels to the south of Lampedusa - taking a further 110 people on board.

The migrants were all given food water and medical treatment if required - before being handed over to Italian authorities.