A vessel is "in distress" in the English Channel, according to the coastguard.

The vessel, with five people on board, is southwest of Eddystone Lighthouse, which stands 15 miles south of Plymouth.

A rescue operation has been launched, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said, with a coastguard helicopter, a fixed-wing aircraft and RNLI lifeboats from Falmouth and Plymouth scrambled to the area.

The MCA said the rescue operation would continue through the night, with more vessels joining the "intensive search".

The agency was alerted by a report about the vessel just after 6pm on Saturday. No further details about the vessel or the circumstances of the incident have been released.

"HM Coastguard is co-ordinating the response to a report of a vessel in distress with five people on board, southwest of Eddystone Lighthouse," the agency said in a statement.

"The incident is ongoing and there is no further information at this time."

(c) Sky News 2026: Vessel 'in distress' in English Channel as rescue effort launched