Emergency services from Fleetwood to Southport join hunt for two teenagers missing at sea

Coastguards at the scene. Picture by HM Coastguard Fleetwood

HM coastguards Fleetwood and Lytham, Blackpool and Lytham RNLI lifeboat stations, the Southport Offshore Rescue Trust, the Southport Rescue Squad Auxiliary, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency rescue helicopter, Fylde and Lancashire police and the National Police Air Service HQ have come together to continue the search for the missing teenagers, aged 18 and 16, who got into difficulty near St Annes Pier yesterday.

A Fleetwood coastguard spokesman said: "Yesterday evening, just as team was standing down from some incidents in the Fleetwood and Cleveleys area, we were tasked to an urgent call for assistance on St Annes beach.

"Reports had come in that three young men had become in difficulty while in the sea off this beach.

The search last night. Picture by HM Coastguard Fleetwood

"As we arrived on scene and met up with HM Coastguard Lytham, the information received was that a 15-year-old child had managed to make it to shore and raised the alarm that his two friends were still out in the water."

A major beach and sea search for the two Dewsbury males was started, co-ordinated by CGOC Holyhead.

The coastguard said: "Searches continued throughout the night and will continue during the day.

"Lancashire police have been contacted by members of the public offering their assistance with the searches, however, please do not attend the scene or start searching as some of these areas are considered dangerous due to the gullies and possible sinking mud.

"HM Coastguard, along with our colleagues from RNLI and the police have the resources and experience in searching these areas."