A model aircraft which was mistaken for a microlight caused rescuers from Lowestoft lifeboat to be scrambled.

Eastern Daily Press: The Lowestoft RNLI Lifeboat crew searching off Pakefield. Picture: Mick HowesThe Lowestoft RNLI Lifeboat crew searching off Pakefield. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

The Lowestoft RNLI relief lifeboat, RNLB Cosandra, was alerted at 12.40pm to search for the mystery object which had plummeted into the sea not far from the shore near Pakefield.

The object was reportedly thought to have been a microlight aircraft, which are small, manned, aeroplanes powered by a propeller, with worries about any potential pilot.

Senior fleet staff coxswain, Andrew Mchaffie, said: 'When we arrived at the position of the sighting our volunteer crew soon spotted something colourful floating just below the surface about 200 yards offshore.

'We used our boat hook and brought the object onto the lifeboat and discovered it was the remains of a sizeable model aircraft.

'There was additional debris in the water as the model had broken up into several bits which we recovered to make sure that the rest of the area was cleared and then we were released to return to station.'