LIFEBOAT volunteers were called to investigate a "mysterious" Mayday call in Clacton.

Clacton RNLI’s lifeboats were tasked by UK Coastguard to search the sea off Clacton-on-sea following an incomplete Mayday message heard on Channel 16 - the marine radio frequency designated for distress - on Saturday at 11.10am.

While the crew were carrying out training scenarios, an incomplete distress call of "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" was heard over the radios, as well as by UK Coastguard, which monitors the channel for distress calls.

There was no further transmission and no response to the coastguard’s replies to the call.

Helmsman Eddie Vaughan-Chatfield said all calls of this nature are taken seriously by the coastguard and they were able to use the distress calls signal strength to narrow down the search area.

Other vessels in the area were also called to ascertain what they heard and help narrow down the search area even further.

With the limited information to hand the coastguard requested Clacton’s Atlantic class lifeboat to search the area from Clacton Pier to the Naze tower - and then Buxey Sands, four miles south of Jaywick, but nothing was found.

The station's D Class lifeboat searched the shoreline area towards the mouth of the River Blackwater.

The lifeboat then crossed over to the St Peters’ Flats before returning towards their start position on a parallel track, stopping to investigate any vessel that was at anchor on route, but nothing was found to be amiss.

Once the coastguard was confident the area had been comprehensively searched both lifeboats were stood down to return to station at 1.05pm.

Mr Vaughan-Chatfield said: "We take all distress calls seriously, no matter how vague or incomplete they are, so we would ask that anyone making one in error please send a cancel message to let everyone know you are okay.

"We urge anyone planning on setting out to sea to learn the correct Mayday procedure, as this will help insure you pass across all relevant information quickly and concisely, saving vital time in distress situation."