A MAJOR search and rescue operation was launched after a man wearing just shorts was spotted running into the sea but not returning to the shore.

Two witnesses dialled 999 after they saw the young man running along the beach near Walton's Albion breakwater and into the sea on Friday.

Stewart Oxley, spokesman for Walton and Frinton Lifeboat Station, said: "The witnesses went down onto the beach and couldn't see him and didn't see him come out of the water.

"The coastguard sent various mobile units and alerted the police.

"They launched us at 9.30pm, and we launched the lifeboat and deployed our inflatable vessel to search the area."

The new state-of-the-art HM Coastguard helicopter was also scrambled for what was one of its first ever call outs. 

Mr Oxley said a 1.5-mile stretch of the Walton coast from Eastclifff to Burnt House was searched, for around two hours but to no avail.

He said no one matching the man's description had been reported missing to Essex Police and it was unlikely searches would resume unless new information came to light.