UPDATED: Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat has launched to reports of an unidentified object in the water off the East coast of the Isle of Wight thi afternoon (Monday).
Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the volunteer rescue service at around 15:30.
The lifeboat is currently approximately 5 miles off the coast, close to the main shipping lane entering the Solent.
It was during the early hours of this morning that flank station Freshwater Independent Lifeboat were called out to an object in the sea, but it turned out to be a pot marker.
UPDATE – Sandown Lifeboat has now returned to station having ascertained the object spotted is a large children’s balloon.
The balloon has been recovered.
