An extensive search is being carried out off the coast of Blackpool for a small light aircraft that disappeared off radar on approach to the airport.

The call came into the UK Coastguard at around 0925 this morning (3 December 2015) to report the missing aircraft.

A search approximately three miles off shore is being carried out.

Lytham St Anne Coastguard Rescue Team, along with three RNLI lifeboats, two from Lytham St Anne’s and one from Blackpool are involved in the search.

The Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Caernarfon is also searching.

Matthew Mace, Duty Controller at the UK Coastguard said: ‘There are reports of low visibility in the area so there is a strong likelihood that this aircraft may have ditched into the sea after contact was lost and it disappeared from the radar. We currently have a helicopter and several Coastguard teams out searching for this aircraft.’

The search remains ongoing.

#RESCUE - The Irish Times reports that an Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft joined a search and rescue mission to evacuate a fisherman off the West Cork coast today.

The Casa CN 235 - one of two operated by the Air Corps - diverted from its daily patrol to provide a communications relay in the operation to rescue an injured crewman from a Spanish fishing boat some 100 miles south of of Castletownbere.

The fisherman was airlifted by an Irish Coast Guard helicopter which at last report was taking him to medical attention in Cork.