North Sea rescue airlift under way

A major rescue operation is under way to airlift 100 people from a stricken gas platform in the North Sea.

Two British RAF Sea King rescue helicopters have been scrambled to the Rough 33 platform, near Hull, after a collision between a merchant vessel and the rig.

The helicopters are winching the personnel from the platform and transferring them to an oil tanker, the Navion Europa, which has a helideck.

Twenty-eight other platform personnel are staying on board, says the RAF Rescue Centre in Kinloss, Scottish Highlands.