The seek for a lacking firefighter who was swimming the English Channel for charity has been referred to as off.

Iain Hughes, crew supervisor at Wednesbury fireplace station within the West Midlands, set off from the Kent coast on Tuesday morning.

The 42-year-old married father-of-two was accompanied by a assist boat however went lacking later that day in French waters.

A search involving French and Belgian army helicopters, plus navy and police patrol boats, was launched however has now completed, French authorities stated.

West Midlands Fire Service stated Mr Hughes's whereabouts "remain unknown" and it's "heartbroken" by his disappearance.

"Iain's disappearance is unspeakably sad," stated Chief Fire Officer Wayne Brown.

"He is a highly-respected and much-loved colleague and friend to many.

"We are giving Iain's household all of the assist we will at this distressing time."

According to Mr Hughes's JustGiving web page, he had raised greater than £5,000 of a £21,000 goal for the British Heart Foundation, Firefighters Charity, and Midlands Air Ambulance.

He joined West Midlands Fire Service in 1999, on the age of 19.