Missing plane: Anglesey search suspended for the night

A helicopter and lifeboats searched for the missing aircraft

The search for a missing light aircraft and its pilot off the Welsh coast has been suspended for the night, the coastguard said.

North Wales Police said the plane had been flying from Caernarfon Airport to the Great Orme, Llandudno and back on Monday afternoon when it disappeared.

The force added that there were no other passengers, and officers were supporting the missing pilot's family.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the search would resume on Tuesday.

A coastguard helicopter and the RNLI searched an area around Puffin Island, near Penmon, Anglesey for the aircraft on Monday.

A flight which travelled from Caernarfon towards Llandudno on Monday appeared to disappear from the radar

HM Coastguard said it received a call for assistance shortly before 12:50 GMT.

A spokesperson said the search was launched after a report that an aircraft had disappeared from radar contact.

Lifeboats from Beaumaris, Moelfre and Llandudno, and North Wales Police all took part.

North Wales Police said: "We received a call at 12:59 reporting a possible crash involving a light aircraft in the Penmon area.

"Officers are currently assisting HM Coastguard and our enquiries are ongoing."

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch also said it had sent a team to investigate an accident involving a light aircraft near Beaumaris, Anglesey.

The RNLI said two lifeboats were launched from Anglesey to assist in the search for an aircraft last seen two miles north east of Penmon.

The search is focusing on an area around Puffin Island, off the east coast of Anglesey