Missing fisherman named by police

It is believed the man was fishing off the causeway at Birnbeck

Police have named a 26-year-old fisherman believed to have been washed into the sea in North Somerset.

Alan Wright was last seen on Thursday afternoon near Birnbeck Pier, Weston-super-Mare, where he had planned to go fishing.

Police said he had arranged to be picked up at 1530 GMT at the same location but did not turn up.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the search was called off at 1500 GMT with the man still missing.

Tattoo

Emergency services started searching the Bristol Channel on Thursday afternoon when two members of the public reported seeing a man swept off the causeway at Birnbeck Pier.

Coastguards from Clevedon and Weston searched the shore while two lifeboats and two helicopters assisted.

The search was postponed overnight and resumed at first light on Friday with the help of Burnham-on-Sea's rescue hovercraft.

A limited search is expected to take place on Saturday.

Police said Mr Wright has a green celtic band tattoo on his upper right arm and was wearing black jeans and a long dark coloured jacket.