Coastguards have dispatched an RAF helicopter to transport an ill ferry passenger to a Norfolk hospital.

The passenger became unwell while on the Pride of York ferry, which travels from Hull to Zeebrugge, in Belgium.

The coastguard, which was informed at about 7.50pm of the medical situation, was able to use a link call to put the ship's medic in touch with a doctor in Aberdeen so they could talk about the patient's symptoms and discuss treatment.

The RAF Search and Rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham has been sent out to the ferry, which is about 30 miles off the coast, in an attempt to transfer the passenger to the James Paget University Hospital at Gorleston.

The rescue is still ongoing but a spokesman said: 'In this case there's a flat part at the back of the boat where they can winch the patient up in a stretcher.'