[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-20880687

It is "highly unlikely" a man swept into the sea in gale-force winds in Blackpool has survived, coastguards have said.

HM Coastguard said a shoreline search for the man's body was continuing.

Stuart Atkinson, watch manager at Crosby Coastguard station, said the strong, westerly gale-force winds made the operation difficult.

He added the conditions, water temperature and length of time in the water made it "highly unlikely" the man could have survived.

"From the information we received, we must unfortunately presume the man went into the water and there is nothing to suggest at this stage that he made it to shore," Mr Atkinson said.

"Therefore the sea search has now been terminated and we are now in the process of searching the shoreline for a body."

A search of the coast and beaches was focusing on an area around the South Pier and the Blackpool sea wall.

The incident comes just before the 30th anniversary of the drowning of three Blackpool police officers who died trying to save a Scottish holidaymaker who had gone into the sea near Gynn Square to rescue his dog.

PCs Angela Bradley, Gordon Connolly, Colin Morrison drowned trying to rescue Alistair Anthony on 5 January 1983.