Search for Channel swimmer called off

The French authorities have called off their search for a Swiss athlete who disappeared shortly before completing a swim across the Channel from England to France.

Rescuers spent all day Sunday searching the shore and sea around Calais with helicopters and lifeboats.

Ueli Staub, 37, had been swimming for about 16 hours and was less than 2km (one mile) from the French coast when the support boat, with his father on board, lost sight of him.

Mr Staub was the coach of the Liechtenstein triathlon team.

He was hoping to become the first Swiss man to swim across the Channel.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service