Body found in search for kayaker Stephen Taylor who went missing off south coast between Southampton and Portsmouth

Four lifeboats and a helicopter carrying rescue teams were dispatched

A lifeboat with a rescue team being dispatched last night (YouTube)

A body has been found during a search for a kayaker who went missing near Southampton.

The discovery was confirmed by Hampshire Police but the body has yet to be formally identified.

Family members of Stephen Taylor, 54, from Gosport – who went missing yesterday night – have been informed of the find.

A coastguard search was sparked when Mr Taylor, an experienced canoeist, had not been seen since Saturday after having left his home that he shares with his partner to go kayaking at 9.30pm.

Mr Taylor is believed to have left Lee-on-Solent in the Fareham region – between the coastal cities of Southampton and Portsmouth – for Lepe Beach on the other side of The Solent.

He had a blue kayak and was wearing a wetsuit, light blue top, a navy life jacket and a beige sun hat.

The kayaker went missing between Portsmouth and Southampton (Google)

A helicopter and four lifeboats carrying rescue teams were dispatched to search the coastline and the surrounding waters after the man’s disappearance was reported to the Coastguard.

It is believed there may have been a sighting of Mr Taylor at approximately 10.50pm on Saturday by a passing vessel.

Ash Rawson, Controller at the National Maritime Operations Centre at Fareham, had said at the time of the search: “We are searching for a kayaker who was expected home last night.

“A vessel has been in contact with us to report a possible sighting and we are following up on this report as well as continuing our indepth search of the area with multiple agencies.”