Police have confirmed two bodies have been found during the search for two missing teenage brothers.
The hunt for the missing boys has come to a tragic end after Lancashire Police said two bodies were found off the Fylde coast.
Though the bodies have yet to be formally identified, police have said they believe they have found Muhammad Azhar Shabbir, 18, and Ali Athar Shabbir, 16.
The teenagers disappeared on Saturday evening after experiencing difficulty in the water close to St Anne's Pier in the seaside resort of Lytham St Anne's.
A substantial air and sea search was launched to try and locate the brothers, who were from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, following a witness who reported seeing three teenagers struggling just before 6.40pm on Saturday.
The Mirror reports the Shabbir siblings' 15-year-old cousin, also from Dewsbury, managed to swim to shore.
The teenager, who was not named, remains in hospital.
The search came to a devastating end when two bodies were found in the water, about a mile from St Anne's Pier, just after 3.15pm on Sunday.
A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: "Our HM Coastguard and RNLI colleagues searching for missing brothers Muhammad Azhar Shabbir, 18, and Ali Athar Shabbir, 16, from Dewsbury have sadly found two bodies.
"The discovery was made at just after 3.15pm this afternoon around a mile away from St Annes Pier, where they sadly got into difficulty in the water yesterday evening.
"Whilst they have yet to be formally identified, they are believed to be Muhammad and Ali.
"Their family have been notified and are continuing to be supported by a specially trained officer.
"Our thoughts and condolences remain with them and their friends at this incredibly distressing time.
"Thanks again to our colleagues at HM Coastguard, the RNLI and the National Police Air Service for helping the search to find Muhammad and Ali, as well as everyone who sent kind words and offered to help the search."
Chief Inspector Chris Hardy wrote on Twitter : "Thoughts are with the family who can now grieve. A very sad end to this tragic incident. Rest in peace boys."
A HM Coastguard spokesperson tweeted: "Our thoughts are with Muhammad and Ali's family and friends during this incredibly difficult time."
The search was previously suspended and Fylde Police had asked people not to join the search operation.
Coastguard rescue teams from Lytham and Fleetwood and the coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Caernarfon were involved in the operation.
They were joined by RNLI lifeboats from Lytham St Annes and Blackpool, independent rescue service Southport Lifeboat, Lancashire police and North West Ambulance Service.
