THE body of a missing diver has been recovered from the sea off Portland.

A major search and rescue operation was launched yesterday after the man was reported missing.

A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said: "At 3.40pm on Monday, August 28, Dorset Police received a report from the coastguard that a diver who had been missing since the morning had been located in the water off Portland.

"Sadly, the diver – believed to be a man in his 40s and from Hampshire – was pronounced dead.

"His next of kin have been informed and the coroner has been notified."

The alarm was raised yesterday morning when the diver failed to report on as expected.

A major multi-agency search operation - involving Weymouth RNLI's all-weather lifeboat, coastguard helicopters and lifeboats from Exmouth and Swanage - was launched.

Vessels in the area also assisted in the search, which was called off this evening.