A MAN has been found safe and well after emergency services launched a desperate search when it was feared he may have been washed out to sea.

The alarm was raised at 9.30am today when a man's belongings were found near the boating lake on Gorleston beach, with a trail of footprints leading towards the sea.

A multi-agency effort, involving Norfolk police, lifeboat teams and the coastguard was launched, with searches being carried out off the coast of Gorleston and Hopton, and near the Outer Harbour.

The Great Yarmouth and Gorleston offshore and inshore lifeboats, Gorleston and Lowestoft coastguard teams and police were all involved in the operation.

The man was discovered at an address in Gorleston at 2pm this afternoon.