A major search is under way for a 13-year-old boy who reportedly got into difficulty while swimming off the East Yorkshire coast, police have said.

Emergency services were called to Hornsea at about 18:00 BST.

Crews, including Hornsea Inshore Rescue, HM Coastguard and Humberside Police, remain at the scene. The RNLI said its Bridlington all-weather lifeboat joined the search.

Ch Supt Phil Booker said: “Our priority now is to find the boy, and members of the public can expect to see specialist Police Search Advisors, along with our Marine Unit and drone pilots, who have also been deployed to conduct an extensive search and rescue operation to locate him.”

Booker added: “We would urge people to please avoid the area where possible to allow emergency services to work efficiently and safely, and refrain from speculating on the circumstances of the incident.”

The search is taking place off the resort’s South Promenade.

In a statement, HM Coastguard said crews from Bridlington, Hornsea and Withernsea were all involved in the search, as well as the Coastguard helicopter and fixed wing aircraft.

Speaking at the scene, the BBC’s Phillip Norton said it was a “subdued” atmosphere, with police and emergency services “dotted along the sea wall as far as the eye can see”.

He added: “Watching on are dozens of members of the public, many looking out to sea where the search has been taking place.

“A lifeboat can be seen about a mile offshore, and a coastguard helicopter has been searching up and down the beach and waterline here for some time.”

Anyone with information that could help the search is asked to contact Humberside Police.

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store, external for iPhone and iPad or Google Play, external for Android devices