A vessel with five people on board is “in distress” in the English Channel, the coastguard has said.

A search and rescue helicopter and boats have been launched to try to help the vessel south west of Eddystone Lighthouse off Plymouth, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

It said it was alerted just after 18:00 BST and a coastguard rescue helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft have been sent, together with RNLI lifeboats from Falmouth and Plymouth.

No further details are currently available about the vessel or the nature of the emergency.

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