A SEARCH for the pilot and missing light aircraft which crashed off the Anglesey coast has been suspended due to the weather in the Irish Sea.

Inspector Dave Corcoran, head of the North West Police Underwater Search and Marine unit is leading the search for Professor David Last and the missing Cessna.

In a statment from North Wales Police (today) Thursday, Inspector Corcoran, said: “The search for the missing Cessna light aircraft has been continuing over the last few days.

"It has been temporarily suspended due to the weather in the Irish Sea and will resume when the weather improves.

“Over the last several days our Police Underwater Search Team, working closely with the AAIB, have been concentrating the search in an area near the last known radar sighting of the aircraft”.

Chief Inspector Essi Ahari said: "We are very grateful for the support we have received from our colleagues in the Police Underwater Search team, HM Coastguard, RNLI, the AAIB and the staff at Caernarfon Airport as part of this ongoing investigation.

“To add to this, the search was supported last Friday and Saturday by the Prince Madog Research Vessel, and we would like to thank the Prince Madog crew, P+O Maritime and the University of Wales Bangor, for the significant assistance they have provided to this ongoing search operation.

"Both the Coroner for North West Wales, Mr Dewi Pritchard Jones and Professor Last’s family are being regularly updated, and we would request that the privacy of Professor last’s family continues to be respected whilst this search is ongoing."