Flares spark extensive search

Flares spark extensive search

AN extensive sea and land search took place on Thursday night after distress flares were spotted off Newcastle.

Newcastle lifeboat carried out a three hour search operation over seven miles from the resort after three flares were seen just after 7.15pm.

The flares were reported by members of Newcastle Coastguard team who were dealing with a separate incident on Murlough beach with the PSNI.

Newly appointed Newcastle RNLI coxswain Alan Jones was at the helm of the lifeboat, which had only an hour earlier returned from passage having undergone routine repairs.

As the RNLI crew carried out a planned search, members of Newcastle and Kilkeel Coastguard teams conducted shore searches south of Newcastle.

After almost three hours the search was called off with nothing found.