Police are hunting for a kayaker who has gone missing off the coast of the south of England.

Alistair Collier, 60, was taking part in a race off Studland in Dorset and was last seen at midday on Saturday near to the pier at the beginning of the event.

At the end of the race all the competitors returned apart from Mr Collier, and a search by police and HM Coastguard was launched.

Mr Collier, who is from Worcester, is described as white, 5ft 2in and of medium build. He has brown eyes, black greying hair and a goatee beard and speaks with a northern accent.

He was wearing a red life jacket and was in a white canoe with stabiliser, which had a blue stripe on top.

Chief Inspector Heather Dixey, of Dorset Police, said: “The search for Alistair is continuing, but unfortunately we have not been able to find him.

“We are urging anyone who has seen a man matching Alistair’s description or his kayak since this afternoon to contact us.”