Solent search after water scooter found adrift

Coastguards have been searching for a missing man after a water scooter was found adrift.

The Yamaha Waverunner was found off the coast of Lymington, Hampshire, early on Tuesday evening.

A mobile phone was found onboard and the kill cord - or engine safety cut-out switch - was not attached, the coastguard said.

The search operation, lasting nearly 24 hours, was suspended on Wednesday evening.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) previously appealed for sightings of the burgundy water scooter, with a single person onboard, at Cowes or Ryde Middle on the Isle of Wight, and Lee-on-the-Solent or Stokes Bay, Gosport, between 18:00 and 20:00 BST on Tuesday.

It was last seen heading across the Solent towards Langstone Harbour and has a "201 Langstone Harbour" sticker attached.

A search and rescue helicopter and a coastguard plane searched the Solent along with five lifeboats, a police marine unit and coastguard rescue teams, but nothing was found, the MCA added.

In a statement, the agency said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this very difficult time."