Rescue efforts are continuing for a vessel in distress in the English Channel as two crew members remain missing, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has said.

A coastguard rescue helicopter, fixed wing plane and two RNLI lifeboats began searching an area south-west of Eddystone Lighthouse off Plymouth shortly after 18:00 BST on Saturday night.

In an update early on Sunday, HM Coastguard in Falmouth confirmed three of the five people aboard the boat had now been accounted for. It did not share further information about the vessel or the nature of the emergency.

A large number of civilian vessels were assisting the “intensive search”, a HM Coastguard spokesperson added.

They also confirmed that an intensive search was maintained during the night.

“It is continuing today with multiple assets sent to help,” they said.

Lifeboat crews from Newlyn and Salcombe have taken over the search from the Plymouth and Falmouth RNLI crews, who worked through the night.

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