Two missing after storm strikes boat

RESCUERS were last night searching for two Britons after their sailing boat was hit by heavy seas off the north-west coast of Portugal.

The pair were trying to head for port in rough conditions when they got into trouble.

Port officer Julio Rocha said a helicopter had joined the search for the men, said to be aged 53 and 54.

He also revealed that one 24-year-old male crew member had been able to swim to safety at Povoa de Varzim.

The accident happened in darkness at about 3.30am yesterday when the men were trying to guide their yacht, named as Water Waves, through difficult conditions into a marina to the north of Porto.

Rocha said the men had been sailing from the north-western Spanish port of Vigo when they ran into a storm.

Land, sea and air rescue crews were said to be searching for the missing men last night.