Search for fishermen called off

The vessel is registered in Banff on the north-east coast

The search for two fishermen missing in their boat off Scotland's west coast has been called off for the night.

Neil Sutherland, 39, and 40-year-old David Davidson, both from Burghead, in Moray, have not been seen since Thursday morning.

A major air and sea search covering a 100 square mile area was launched for their boat, the Brothers.

They had set off from Gairloch at about 0200 BST and the alarm was raised when the vessel was reported overdue.

A Nimrod aircraft from RAF Kinloss, Stornoway Coastguard helicopter, three lifeboats and a number of local fishing boats took part in the search of an area stretching south to Kyle, north to Loch Broom and into The Minch.

The Banff-registered Brothers is a twin rig prawn trawler.

Pieces of wood

The alarm was raised when the father of the skipper reported the boat overdue and an air and sea search was launched.

RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said an oil slick was found off Skye and pieces of wood were spotted in The Minch. These were being checked.

Mr Mulford said debris could be found at any time in the sea and at this stage there was nothing to connect the wood found to the search for the missing vessel.

Stornoway Coastguard said the exercise was extensive, covering the Skye and Western Isles area.

We're concerned for the safety of the crew on board the fishing boat at the moment because there has been no contact Martin Collins Stornoway Coastguard

Weather conditions in the area were said to be favourable, with good visibility and light winds.

Martin Collins, watch manager at Stornoway Coastguard, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We've got nothing to indicate that anything adverse has happened to the boat.

"There's been no wreckage found or anything like that, obviously we're concerned for the safety of the crew on board the fishing boat at the moment because there has been no contact."

He said the shore search had concentrated around the Gairloch area, while the sea and air search had covered a "vast area" between Kinlochbervie, Kyle of Lochalsh and The Minch.

Burghead councillor Eric McGillivray said: "Waking up this morning to hear that two Burghead fishermen are missing off the west coast was obviously devastating news for the community."