A MASSIVE search was sparked off the Kent coast today after a report that a plane had crashed in the sea.

Dover coastguard, lifeboats and an RAF search plane were drafted in at 9.20am after a pilot flying over Dungeness reported seeing a plane in the water.

But after they trawled the Channel for more than three hours and found nothing, the search was called off at 12.45pm.

Eight ships sailing through the Strait of Dover also helped with the search.

Dover coastguard watch officer Mike Painter said the pilot, who had been flying very high, had probably seen a low-flying plane and thought it was in the water.

There had been an aircraft taking photographs of ships in the area around 50 or 60 feet above the water.

"Nobody has been reported missing and we have made sure the area is thoroughly checked," Mr Painter said.