A fisherman has been airlifted to hospital after falling from a creel boat in Aberdeenshire.

A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched just outside Macduff Harbour after the vessel was found unoccupied at sea at around 12.40pm on Wednesday.

The HM Coastguard Inverness helicopter, lifeboats from Macduff and Buckie RNLI and the Banff Coastguard Rescue Team worked together to find the man.

A number of vessels in the area also joined in the search after responding to a mayday call.

The missing fisherman was eventually located in the water just before 1.30pm. He has since been airlifted to hospital, where his condition is currently unknown.

A HM Coastguard spokesperson said: "HM Coastguard received a 999 call from a fellow fisherman at 12.40pm today, reporting a fisherman missing after he found a vessel unoccupied at sea.

"The HM Coastguard Inverness helicopter, Macduff and Buckie RNLI lifeboats and the Banff Coastguard Rescue Team were involved in the search.

"A number of vessels in the area also joined in the search after responding to a mayday relay broadcast issued by HM Coastguard.

"Just before 1.30pm the coastguard helicopter located the missing fisherman in the water. He has been airlifted to hospital."