A yachtsman who sparked a search by both Falmouth lifeboats after his yacht was found deserted was found safe and well at home on Friday night.

Falmouth Coastguard called the inshore lifeboat to be launched at around 6.45pm on Friday, and also called out the Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team, following a report of a possible missing yachtsman at Mylor Harbour.

Arriving at Mylor Yacht Harbour just after 7pm, the lifeboat spoke to a member of the public, identified the yacht which the man was believed to be missing from, and confirmed that it was unoccupied before searching the immediate area and requesting the launch of the all weather lifeboat help as the light was failing.

The all weather lifeboat was approaching Trefusis Point when, at just before 7.30pm, it was confirmed that the missing yachtsman had been located safe and well ashore, and both lifeboats were released to return to their station.

An RNLI spokesperson said: "The yachtsman had been seen to go out to his yacht which had later been found to be left open with no one on board so the alarm was raised.

"Following enquiries the missing person had been located safe and well at home.

"Although this turned out to be a false alarm, the first informant had certainly made the correct call in reporting their concerns to the coastguard, as had the yachtsman been in the water any delay would have been critical especially with the failing light."