The search for a diver who went missing yesterday has been called off and is now being investigated by police.

After lifeboats and helicopters were dispatched at around noon yesterday to search for an 'overdue' diver two miles south of Falmouth, HM Coastguard has now called off the search and handed the case over to Devon and Cornwall Police as a missing persons investigation.

Police divers have also been assigned to assist in the search.

Yesterday, HM Coastguard told The Packet: "HM Coastguard is coordinating the search for a missing diver off Pendennis Point.

"Both Falmouth RNLI lifeboats, HM Coastguard’s helicopter from Newquay, a Royal Navy helicopter and vessels in the area are all involved in the search."

However, in an updated statement, they confirmed that: ""HM Coastguard stood down the search and rescue side of things yesterday evening – i.e. the RNLI lifeboats and the helicopters – but carried on broadcasting Mayday relays through the night."

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Helicopters were spotted hovering low between Pendennis Castle and St Anthony lighthouse at around 01:50am, however, HM Coastguard also confirmed that they were not theirs and had no information regarding their origin.

Packet shipping correspondent David Barnicoat said: "No details of the diver or the boat he was diving from have been released. Search patterns of helo and lifeboat obtained from Marine Traffic."

Falmouth Diving Club have also said that the missing diver was not one of their members and they didn't know what boat it was.

Both Falmouth RNLI lifeboats, HM Coastguard’s helicopter from Newquay, and Royal Navy helicopter and vessels in the area were involved in last night's search, which unfortunately ended with no sign of the diver or any clue as to what boat they might have been on.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "The police were contacted by Falmouth Coastguard in relation to a diver who had not resurfaced off the coast at Falmouth on Thursday 17 June.

"Police are now assisting in the search for the missing person and divers have been tasked to the scene as part of the investigation."