A major search for a diver who disappeared off Scotland's north coast has been called off after almost 24 hours. Lifeboats, helicopters and private boats searched for the man after he was reported to have vanished to the south-west of the Isle of Swona, near Orkney, at 6pm on Tuesday.
Coastguard rescue teams from Kirkwall and St Margaret's Hope were called out to scour the area. The Pentland Firth, known to be a dangerous area due to its powerful tidal currents, separates the Orkney Islands from Caithness.
On Wednesday evening HM Coastguard, who co-ordinated the operation, said they had "very sadly" called the search off as the diver could not be found. The diver is reported to have entered the water near the Tails of the Tarf and failed to surface when expected.
