THE search for the remaining crewmembers from the Purbeck Isle fishing boat has been called off, it has been announced.

It comes after the life raft was located on board the Purbeck Isle, which is lying on the seabed 50 metres down about 10 miles off Portland.

A remotely operated vehicle from the survey vessel Odyssey Explorer was able to enter the wreck and locate the life raft, confirming it had not been deployed.

Rescuers had been hoping the two missing fishermen had managed to scramble onto the life raft and were adrift at sea.

The body of skipper David McFarlane was recovered from the sea on Friday. Crewmembers Robert Prowse and Jack Craig are still missing and are feared drowned.

The tragedy has shocked the community of Weymouth and Portland. As family members come to terms with their loss, floral tributes are being laid on the Weymouth harbour wall close to the Purbeck Isle's usual mooring near the Ship Inn.

Portland Coastguard Rescue Coordination Centre Manager Mark Rodaway said: “After a prolonged and extensive three day search, sadly, the time has now passed when we could have hoped that the two remaining crew members from the Purbeck Isle would be found alive.

"Our final area of investigation was to search for the missing life raft in the hope that they had been able to board it before the vessel sank, but sadly this new information means that this search will now be terminated. Our thoughts are with the families of all three crewmen at this difficult time."

See Monday's Echo for the full story and tributes to the fishermen.