The search for a missing fisherman has been called off for good.

The coastguard aircrew resumed its search for 37-year-old fisherman Steven Weatherall yesterday for four hours but was forced back to shore at 2pm due to fog conditions at sea.

The Coastguard Service has confirmed air crews will not search the area again, unless a firm sighting of Mr Weatherall's body is received. Mr Weatherall, from Hastings, was last seen sailing from his beach mooring in Hastings, at 1pm on Tuesday.

He had told his wife Jane, who gave birth on Monday, he would be back by 4pm on Tuesday from a fishing trip. Debris from his boat, the Sandra Jane, was discovered 12 miles from the Sussex coast during a huge air and sea search on Wednesday, involving two helicopters, an aeroplane and five lifeboats.

It is not known what happened during the fishing trip but it is believed he may have been in collision with a larger vessel. A coastguard spokeswoman said last night: "We kept the air search going for as long as we could but the visibility was getting so bad it came back. They managed to cover a lot of sea near where the debris was found. Other items from the boat were located but there was no sign of Mr Weatherall."

During the search 2,000 square miles, from the Rye basin to Newhaven, were covered by lifeboat crews and coastguards. Dave Corke, Eastbourne lifeboat coxswain said foggy conditions have consistently hampered their search.

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