The search for a missing canoeist was called off late today as hopes of finding the man alive began to fade.

John Darwin, 51, of Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, is an experienced canoeist who took his kayak into the water at Seaton Carew at about 8am on Thursday morning and has not been seen since.

He was reported missing on Thursday evening and a massive search and rescue operation was launched which lasted through until yesterday afternoon after a double edged paddle was found in the water near the North Gare.

At its height, the operation covered the whole of the Teesbay area and involved coastguards, the police, search helicopters and lifeboats from Redcar, Teesmouth, Hartlepool and Staithes.

But the crews returned to base yesterday afternoon with no sign of Mr Darwin.

A spokesman from Humber Coastguard said last night: "He has been missing for quite a while now and the longer it goes on the more worrying it is. It would have been better if we found him earlier but we are still hopeful."