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A major search for a man feared lost at sea was called off - when he was found in a pub.

Four coastguard and lifeboat teams along with a helicopter crew searched for two hours when the man disappeared after he was seen walking across the Dwyryd Estuary from Portmeirion, near Porthmadog.

Police found him uninjured at the Ship Aground pub in nearby Talsarnau at around 8pm.

A spokesman for Holyhead Coastguard said: “We received reports of a man sighted walking across the estuary from Portmeirion and that person was missing.

“We sent two lifeboats from Criccieth and coastguard teams from Harlech and Criccieth as well as a helicopter.

“The man was found by police at around 8pm and did not realise the fuss that had been caused.”

An eyewitness said: “For a couple of hours there was a helicopter circulating over Penrhyndeudraeth and the Portmeirion area. You could see police flashlights from Talsarnau and there was a boat with a flashlight on the estuary.”

Another eye-witnesses at the scene told how flares were set off during the search.

One woman said: “There was a lot of activity around Porthmadog Harbour and we saw flares being shot into the sky and there was a helicopter flying back and forth along the water. The harbour master was also here and boats were searching.”

Holyhead Coastguard thanked the public for their help and concern during the incident.