A boy aged 12 tried to save a girl who disappeared off the coast at Clacton while swimming with a friend, it was revealed this afternoon.

Stella Ankabi, 10, is feared dead after being missing since 4.20 yesterday afternoon.

The boy, from Hertfordshire, joined his father who jumped into the sea to try to bring the girls to safety.

The man is reported to have got hold of Stella and tried to bring her to shore but she slipped from his grasp and disappeared underwater when he got into difficulty.

Several people on the beach reached the other girl and brought her to safety. The man and the girl were treated for water inhalation.

Stella's mother travelled from her home in Milton Keynes to the Essex resort last night.

The woman also has a four-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son. She visited the beach early today.

A rescue mission was launched last night involving 60 people from the police, Thames coastguard, RNLI, RAF and the council beach patrol.

Police marine unit officers were today continuing to search along the beach.

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