Man's body found in search for fishing boat off Dorset

RNLI lifeboats, the Coastguard helicopter and a Royal Navy warship are searching for the vessel

The body of a man has been recovered from the sea off the Dorset coast.

It is believed to be one of three missing fishermen from the vessel Purbeck Isle, based in Weymouth, which was reported missing on Thursday evening.

The man was found by coastguard officers at about 17:30 BST.

The families of the three crew members have been informed. No further details are being released until the body has been formally identified.

Earlier, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said an uncharted wreck of similar size to the Purbeck Isle had been located around 10 miles south west of Portland Bill.

It was discovered by a survey ship with sonar equipment involved in the search for the boat.

Coastguards began an extensive search overnight after the crabber was reported missing at about 18:00 BST on Thursday.

The MCA said it received no communication from the crew of the crabber before it disappeared.