THREE North Wales lifeboats were called out for a major search for a man missing from a Dublin to Holyhead ferry.

RNLI lifeboats from Holyhead, Porthdinllaen and Moelfre launched last night, Monday October 5. They joined in the search with HM Coastguard and Irish Coastguard aircraft.

An RNLI spokesperson said: “Holyhead’s Severn class all weather lifeboat, Christopher Pearce, and inshore D class, Mary and Archie Hooper, were launched, to assist in a 1,000 square mile search of the Irish Sea and the local harbour and coastline.

“Porthdinllaen’s Tamar class lifeboat, John D Spicer, was launched just after 11pm and the volunteer crew searched an area 70 miles to the west of South Stack.

“Moelfre’s Tamar class lifeboat, Kiwi, was shortly afterwards After several hours of searching, assisted by the Irish Coastguard helicopter and the UK Coastguard’s fixed wing aircraft.”

HM Coastguard stated on social media: “HM Coastguard is coordinating a wide scale search for a crew man reported missing from a ferry in the Irish Sea.

“At 9pm, Holyhead Coastguard Operations Centre received a report of a missing crew man from a ferry on passage from Dublin to Holyhead and launched a wide scale search involving Porthdinllaen RNLI lifeboat, Holyhead RNLI all weather lifeboat and inshore lifeboat, Moelfre RNLI lifeboat, HM Coastguard's fixed wing aircraft and the rescue helicopter from the Irish Coastguard as well as North Wales Police for port and vessel searches.

“The crew man was last seen between 3.30 and 4pm on Monday 5th October and was found to be missing during the voyage to Holyhead.”