POLICE and Coastguard were alerted last night following reports of "various vessels" landing off Shoebury East Beach with "possibly up to 30 migrants aboard".

Late last night, a member of the public walking a dog told a bus driver at the bus stop at East Beach because they said they did not have a mobile phone on them.

Essex Police were then informed and HM Coastguard Southend was called out to attend the scene.

East of England Ambulance Service incident response units also attended given the concern for the potential of multiple casualties needing assistance.

Once on scene Southend Coastguard worked alongside Essex Police - Southend who launched a drone to search to detect heat while Southend Coastguard conducted a search along the coastline.

A spokesman for HM Coastguard Southend said: "After a long search there was no indication or evidence of any persons landing within the locale and Dover Coastguard stood Southend down to return to station for further alerting."