The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is appealing for information about a small motorboat after receiving a Mayday call just after midnight.

The vessel, Norfolk Girl, called the Humber Coastguard at 12.10am on Wednesday saying they had broken down 13.5 miles northeast of Cromer while on their way to Scunthorpe.

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The caller also told the coastguard that there were two people on board the 6m long boat, which was blue and white in colour.

All communications to the vessel were lost shortly after this and a search party was sent out to locate Norfolk Girl and her crew.

An RAF rescue helicopter and an RNLI lifeboat scoured the last reported area the vessel was believed to be in, but sadly nothing was found.

Rescue crews called off the search just before 5am on Wednesday morning and asked other boats in the area to keep an eye out.

Humber Coastguard watch manager Peter Macauley, said: “The Mayday call was received on only one aerial so we can be certain that whoever contacted us was in the vicinity of Cromer. However, despite an extensive search, we cannot find Norfolk Girl or the two people on board.

“We are asking vessels around the north Norfolk coast to be very vigilant and would also like to ask any member of the public with information about a pleasure vessel called Norfolk Girl to call Humber Coastguard on 01262 672317.”

The coastguard advised that there is also a fishing vessel by the name of Norfolk Girl, but this is not the boat they are looking for.