Missing boat which sparked major search operation found

Coastguards, a lifeboat and a search and rescue helicopter were involved in searching for the motor boat with seven people on board - including five children - which had been heading towards Weymouth last week.

It has been confirmed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency that the vessel made contact with HM Coastguard on Saturday September 4, reporting that all were safe and onboard and that the vessel was safely berthed.

The 24ft-long Sunseeker vessel named Solitude, with a white hull and a blue top, had been making its way from Poole towards Weymouth when it was reported missing.

It first came to the attention of rescuers on Wednesday evening when it was in danger of running aground on the beach at Swanage after dragging its anchor.

Swanage inshore lifeboat towed it into deeper water while the crew of the all-weather lifeboat offered advice resulting in the boat being escorted into the shelter of Poole Harbour where it was able to pick up a mooring.

As a result of the incident, those on board were told to keep the Coastguard operations room updated on its movements.

It then set off for Weymouth on Thursday but appears to have run into difficulty off Kimmeridge later in the day, possibly experiencing engine trouble. It is understood it overcame these difficulties and set off for Weymouth - but it didn't arrive at its destination and Coastguards haven't been informed of its whereabouts.

Wyke Coastguard Rescue Team was alerted at 9.30pm on Thursday. Checks of the CCTV at Weymouth Marinas and Portland Port revealed that it had not arrived. The team then checked vessels in the inner and outer harbour at Weymouth before conducting a shoreline search from the Pleasure Pier to Bowleaze but nothing was found. The team searched until just after midnight.

Weymouth Lifeboat then launched at 12.30am and the coastguard helicopter was scrambled about an hour later.

Rescuers put out an appeal urging the public to look out for the vessel before it was found.