A DIVER was today missing, presumed dead after disappearing while searching a wreck off the Welsh coast.

Michael Brennan, 33, of Brownside Road, Worsthorne, was diving up to 120 metres with a team from the Irish O'Faith boat, 15-miles off South Stack, Holyhead, North Wales on Sunday.

He was reported missing at 5.12pm.

Holyhead Coastguard watch manager Geoff Lunt said: "When the boat containing the divers got back in it was met by the police.

"We began a search immediately with the helicopter and two life boats and continued to search until 2.37am on Monday.

"We took into consideration the drift that the diver could have been carried by which would have been sea current and we searched an area of 30 square miles.

"The diving boat remained on the scene and they had placed a marker where their friend had disappeared.

"We knew the casualty had carried strobe lights and if a diver sets these off at night they can be seen for miles around and so we kept on searching through the night but nothing could be seen.

"Divers do go down to wrecks here, but that is not one which they usually visit. For us to have asked the diving team to have gone down would have been irresponsible.

"Now we just have to wait to see what the sea gives up. We know some of his diving friends may try to go back down to the wreck to see if they can find their mate but hopefully they will tell us so we are aware of it if they do."

A woman who answered the door at Mr Brennan's home said she did not want to talk about what had happened.