AN ABANDONED dinghy sparked a search yesterday evening (Thursday) after it was spotted adrift by ferry passengers.

At around 5pm yesterday, Cowes RNLI inshore lifeboat was called to the dinghy off the coast of Fishbourne.

A spokesperson for the Cowes RNLI said: "The dinghy, said to be about four metres long, was reported to have been seen off Fishbourne by Wightlink’s Victoria of Wight.

"The lifeboat painstakingly searched an extensive area of The Solent plus Wootton Creek for nearly an hour.

"Nothing was found, however, and with the light fading the lifeboat returned to station."