COASTGUARD crews searching for two brothers who went missing whilst swimming in the sea have found two bodies.

Muhammad Azhar Shabbir, 18, and Ali Athar Shabbir, 16, got into difficulty in the water near St Annes Pier on Saturday evening.

The discovery was made shortly after 3.15pm, around a mile away from where they were last seen.

A police spokesman said: "Whilst the two bodies have yet to be formally identified, they are believed to be Muhammad and Ali.

"Their family has been notified and are continuing to be supported by a specially trained officer.

"Our thoughts and condolences remain with them and their friends at this incredibly distressing time.

"Thanks again to our colleagues at HM Coastguard, the RNLI and the National Police Air Service (NPAS) for helping the search to find Muhammad and Ali, as well as everyone who sent kind words and offered to help the search."

Rescue services including the RNLI and the coastguard searched "well into the night" for the two boys, from Dewsbury, before resuming the operation early this morning.

The search was called off early this afternoon, but police said that may reconvene later in the day.

A 15-year-old boy, who officers have identified as Muhammed and Ali's cousin, managed to swim to the shore. He has been treated in hospital.

Coastguard rescue teams from Lytham and Fleetwood and the coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Caernarfon had been part of the operation.

They were joined by RNLI lifeboats from Lytham St Annes and Blackpool, independent rescue service Southport Lifeboat, together with Lancashire Police and North West Ambulance Service.