A missing light aircraft carrying two people has sparked a major search operation between Scotland and Northern Ireland after going missing.

The small aircraft was off the Northern Ireland coastline believed to be heading for Stranraer when it went vanished.

The aircraft was reported overdue at around 8.30pm on Thursday and Coastguard from the UK and Ireland have been involved in the operation throughout the night and into the early hours of Friday.

The search was suspended due to poor visibility as a result of fog at 3am on Friday but the rescue teams resumed the search later on Friday morning.

The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Prestwick, the Irish Coastguard helicopter based at Dublin and Ballycastle, Coleraine, Stranraer, Portpatrick, Larne and Campbelltown Coastguard rescue teams are all involved the search.

The RNLI also launched inshore and all-weather lifeboats, from Larne, Red Bay and Portpatrick to help in the search.

The Northern Ireland North West Mountain Rescue Team will also be joining the search on Friday.

Ryan Gray, senior maritime operations officer at the UK Coastguard, said: "UK Coastguard has also issued a mayday relay broadcast in the area and several merchant shipping vessels have responded and are keeping a lookout for this aircraft. We may send further resources as the search widens."

Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland have also been informed.

James Instance, duty controller with UK Coastguard, added: "The weather has caused problems for the search operation. However, we have drawn up an extensive search and rescue plan which will be put into action today."