Missing fishing boat: Rescue teams searching the Channel for vessel and four crew members

The boat was declared missing on Wednesday afternoon

Rescue teams are scouring the English Channel for a fishing boat and its four crew members tonight, after they went missing in “very challenging” weather.

The Dover Coastguard was alerted in the afternoon after the vessel disappeared as it battled against rough seas and gale-force winds.

The vessel has a Dutch skipper, three crew members are Dutch, Portuguese and Belgian, BBC News repoted.

The 40m long Belgian-registered trawler was last reported at a location approximately 10 miles from Dungeness on the Kent coast, Sky News reported.

A Coastguard Rescue helicopter and a French rescue helicopter have been tasked with scanning the area in the south east of the Channel.

A French lifeboat is joining two all-weather lifeboats from Dungeness and Dover to support the search effort in the area, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

The Coastguard has notified other vessels in the surrounding area to remain vigilant, warning that “weather conditions on scene are very challenging, with rough seas and gale force winds”.

Additional reporting by PA