Three bodies have been found in the search for fishermen who went missing six weeks ago.
The families of Ross Ballantine, 39, Skipper Carl McGrath, 34, and Alan Minard, 20, have been informed after police discovered three bodies off the English coast at the weekend.
The men went missing on January 27 after setting off onboard the Nicola Faith from Conwy, North Wales.
When they failed to return the following day a major RNLI and HM Coastguard search was launched but despite exhaustive efforts, no trace was found.
A life raft belonging to the boat then washed ashore in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, two weeks ago.
Police today confirmed they had discovered three bodies in the search for the missing trio as their families were being supported.
We told last week of how the heartbroken sister of "devoted dad" Ross Ballantine issued an emotional plea for help to find the boat.
The former Glasgow University student said the family would be unable to grieve until they had answers.
A Just Giving page was set up by the families of the missing men to pay for a private search by leading oceanographer David Mearns who helped recover the plane carrying tragic Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala in February 2019.
The page raised over £55,000 to aid the efforts.
A North Wales Police statement said: "We are aware that the bodies of three men have been recovered from the coastline off the Wirral and Blackpool over the weekend.
"We have been in contact with colleagues from both Merseyside and Lancashire Police, and we await the outcome of the Home Office postmortem examinations.
"The families of the missing crew members from the vessel ‘Nicola Faith’ have been kept informed, and continue to be supported by specialist officers.
"We would request that they are given the necessary privacy at this difficult time."
