Debris has been spotted in the search for a light aircraft which vanished at sea on its way to Scotland.

A microlight carrying two people sparked a major search operation between Scotland and Northern Ireland after it went missing on Thursday night.

The small aircraft was off the Northern Ireland coastline believed to be heading for Stranraer when it is thought to have crashed.

The aircraft was reported overdue at around 8.30pm on Thursday and Coastguard from the UK and Ireland were involved in a search 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 but the rescue teams resumed the search later on Friday morning.

The RNLI then confirmed in the afternoon that debris has been spotted in the water off the north of County Antrim by a passing yacht.

Lifeboats have been sent to the scene but it is not confirmed as the missing microlight yet.

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 Northern Ireland North West Mountain Rescue Team also joined 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.