Three sailors from a Russian cargo boat have been found by lifeboat crews stranded on an island in the middle of the Bristol Channel.

A major search and rescue operation had been launched after the sailors missing after a night drinking in Barry.

They were found an hour later on Flat Holm island in the Bristol Channel.

The three men, who are Russian, Dutch and Philippine nationals, had been drinking in Barry before they went missing in foggy conditions in the early hours of Thursday morning.

After being taken back to Barry Dock lifeboat station, they only wanted to say: "We are safe and we just want to thank the friendly people here."

(Image: RNLI)

They are part of the crew of a Russian cargo ship anchored off Minehead in Somerset.

The sailors left the ship on Wednesday night, taking the vessel's 13ft (4m) rigid inflatable to go drinking in the Welsh seaside town.

They are understood to have left Barry at 3.45am but did not return to the ship. Rescuers believe that they had got lost in the foggy conditions.

Andy Berry, from the Penarth RNLI, said the crew had been found "safe and cold".

(Image: RNLI)

The three sailors were found by the Penarth Lifeboat crew, but there had also been rescue boats from Minehead, Barry and Illfracombe out looking for them.

A spokesman for the RNLI said: "Minehead RNLI’s Atlantic class lifeboat and Barry Dock’s Trent all-weather lifeboat were launched just after 7am this morning to assist in the search.

"As the search continued two lifeboats from Penarth RNLI, the Atlantic 85 and D-class lifeboat, along with Ilfracombe RNLI’s Shannon class lifeboat also launched to assist at around 8am.

"All five lifeboats lifeboats carried out detailed searches along their coastlines."

How to call for emergency help at sea

How to call for emergency help at sea

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the trio were found after an "extensive" search and were taken back to Barry after they were found "safe and well" at around 8.50am.

Mr Berry said: "They have been found on Flat Holm. They're safe but cold.

"It's been an extensive search by the RNLI with a number of rescue teams."

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman said: "The three crew members were reported missing in the early hours of this morning [March 21] after they had left Barry to return to their vessel that is anchored in the Bristol Channel.

"The trio were found after an extensive search involving the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from St Athan, Barry and Watchet coastguard rescue teams, and five RNLI Lifeboats.

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"The crew were found on Flat Holm, an island in the Bristol Channel, at around 8.50am this morning, by the Barry RNLI lifeboat and have been taken back to Barry."

A spokesman for South Wales Police said they were "assisting" the men.