THREE men who sparked a major search and rescue operation in the Channel have been detained in France.

Concerns were raised when Dover Coastguard received a 999 call from the mother of one of the men saying they had set off in a 12ft boat from Sandwich yesterday morning.

Two of the party are understood to have "learning difficulties".

A Rescue Helicopter from RAF Wattisham, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Surveillance aircraft, lifeboats from Ramsgate and Walmer and coastguard rescue teams were involved in the search.

Their boat was found at 6pm between Calais and Gris Nez and the men were detained by French Police.

Murray Milligan, of Dover Coastguard said: "This is an extremely busy shipping lane to navigate in such a small craft.

"We understand that none of the three had any experience in sailing or navigation, which made this a particularly dangerous undertaking.

"This is now a matter for the French authorities."