Emergency services were called out to a well intentioned false alarm on Friday as it was believed a fisherman had fallen from Whitehaven North Pier.

Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team were mobilised to reports of a missing fisherman along with Cumbria Police, coastguard teams from Workington and Maryport and a Rescue 199 helicopter from Prestwick.

The report was first made to Belfast Coastguard Operations Centre. The coastguard were concerned as winds were high on the coast.

Eye witness reports as well as extensive land, air and sea searches lead the teams to conclude that it was a false alarm. Searches covered the area of coast between Parton and Whitehaven with points along the railway used for observation. The search comes off the back of a plea by Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team to stay vigilant by the coast as the government have relaxed lockdown restrictions to allow exercise in areas away from the home.