A HUGE air and sea search was underway today for two men missing in Southampton Water.

Police and coastguards were scouring the area after the pair, aged 22 and 18, both from the city, failed to return from a fishing trip.

Fears are growing for their lives after their 12ft dinghy was found capsized at a mooring buoy about 800 yards south of Southampton Sailing Club in Woolston.

A team of divers was searching the area around the mooring this morning.

The men had gone fishing at about 11.30pm on Wednesday. The wife of one of the men alerted the police yesterday afternoon. Coastguards say the weather was not a factor and the boat was tied to a buoy near a point where the River Itchen meets Southampton Water when it overturned.

A massive overnight search, involving Coastguard helicopter, Hamble Rescue, police and harbour launches and coastal searches by Coastguard teams from Hillhead, Southampton and Lymington failed to locate the men.

The hunt was suspended at midnight and resumed just before dawn today in the busy shipping channel between Weston Shore and the docks, which is popular with night-time fishermen.

Southampton Coastguard sector manager Mike O'Brien said fears were growing for their safety.

He said: "Survival in this sort of water is minutes rather than hours.

"It seems something caused them to capsize and we think they both went into the water because they obviously have not phoned or returned home.

"Last night we searched the scene where we think they were last observed.

"There was a possible sighting of the boat at 6pm last night but we are not certain."

"Last night, we searched the River Itchen from Cobden Bridge all the way down and the air search covered the whole of Southampton Water using infra-red and night vision equipment.

"It was suspended at midnight when it was low water." Police say the dinghy was found capsized at 8.20pm yesterday.

Insp Mark Wise said: "Police along with the Coastguard and Hamble Rescue are carrying out a search of Southampton Water following a report of two missing males, both local to Southampton, who were last seen at 10.45pm on Wednesday.

"A 12ft dinghy has been recovered from the water but unfortunately the males are both outstanding.

"There are obviously serious concerns for their wellbeing." The men are not believed to be linked with Southampton Sailing Club.