A British freighter carrying 75 ‘dangerous cargo’ containers has sunk in the English Channel 45 miles off the Lizard in Cornwall. All 26 crew of the MSC Napoli had abandoned ship.

The 62,000-tonne, 900 ft long vessel had taken in water from a hole in its side on the French side of the channel. A Maritime and Coastguard Agency tug, the Anglian Princess, plus two helicopters from RNAS Culdrose, are heading towards the vessel.

Coastguards said the weather on scene was south-westerly severe Gale Force 9 (more than 50mph), with 8m to 9m (26ft to 30ft) swells.