The coxswain of a lifeboat and his assistant are both missing after they set out to lay a mooring in a low freeboard Dory laden with heavy anchors. An air-sea search is continuing after 24 hours without success.

Father-of-five Keith Allday, 54 – who is also the harbourmaster of the Barmouth lifeboat in North Wales – and his assistant harbour master Alan Massey, 37, have both been reported missing. Allday had been wearing a dry suit and a buoyancy aid. The buoyancy aid and a fuel tank were later recovered.

The two men were last seen laying a mooring in Barmouth harbour around midday on Monday. Divers later discovered that they never finished the job. The alarm was raised when their 15ft boat was found upturned in the estuary.