Reports of man overboard prompts North Sea search

Coastguard and lifeboat crews have been searching the sea off Southwold after reports of a man overboard

A search in the North Sea is under way after a man reportedly went overboard from a ship off the Suffolk coast.

Emergency services were called at about 10:30 BST after being alerted to a man missing from a vessel off Southwold.

RNLI lifeboats from Lowestoft, Harwich and Aldeburgh were launched, later joined by crews from Gorleston, Norfolk, and Walton and Frinton, Essex.

Three fixed-wing aircraft - two from HM Coastguard and one from the Netherlands - have also been assisting.

HM Coastguard is co-ordinating the search with the RNLI, the Netherlands coastguard and other vessels.