An RAF rescue helicopter has joined the coastguard's search for two men reported missing at sea.

The pair waded into the water at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and were seen to get into difficulties after the tide turned.

A coastguard spokesman said the men, both believed to be 34 and from the town, stripped off on the beach down to their boxer shorts and entered the water while their girlfriends remained on the beach.

He said: "The initial call to the Coastguard was timed at just after 9.00pm. By 13 minutes past the hour the two men seem to have been taken about half a mile off shore and were heard still shouting for help."

He added that the water temperature was around 14C (57F).

Lifeboats at Weston and Burnham and a helicopter from RAF Chivenor were called out to aid the search and rescue teams are searching the shoreline.

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