Search launched after boat loses radio contact

A search was under way tonight for a fishing vessel which lost contact with coastguards shortly after reporting problems.

The skipper of the small shellfish boat contacted coastguards to report something had snagged the vessel’s nets.

Shortly after raising the alarm around 8pm, coastguards lost contact with the vessel in the Firth of Forth.

A Forth Coastguard spokesman said the vessel had been about two and half miles south of Buckhaven in Fife.

He said: “The skipper reported he was attempting to return to shallow waters but we lost contact with him.”

Local coastguard teams and a RAF helicopter from Boulmer were carrying out a search of the area.

The vessel is believed to be local.