A kite surfer sparked a massive search operation after going missing while travelling across the Bristol Channel from Weston- super-Mare to Cardiff.

The man's friends alerted the coastguard on Tuesday at 6.30pm after they saw him disappear from view, fearing he may have encountered difficulties.

Two Weston lifeboats launched along with inshore lifeboats from Barry and Penarth and an all-weather lifeboat from Barry.

Burnham-on-Sea coastguard and a rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor were also drafted in.

The helicopter searched the sea around the islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm looking for the surfer, who is believed to be from Weston, but found no sign.

Rescuers spent two-and-a-half hours performing sweeps of the channel before receiving a call to say the man was safe and well.

He had left the resort at 5.30pm and was due to arrive in Cardiff an hour later but ended up near Aberthaw power station, about 15 miles away, at 9.30pm after being blown off course.

The surfer was found sheltering on Gileston beach and was taken to the Barry coastguard team base for hot tea and some words of advice.

He later caught a train to Weston-super-Mare, where his car was parked.

Swansea coastguards said the cost of the rescue would have run into thousands of pounds but the kite surfer had not done anything wrong.

Coastguard spokesman Dave Hughes said: "He was a very experienced kite surfer and had all the correct kit; it was just this time his navigation was thrown out.

"The decision was made to send out so many crews because the light was fading and the weather conditions were getting worse.

"Trying to find a single person with one crew in the dark is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

"It's better to act quickly than let the situation draw out."

Steve Matthews, the watch manager who coordinated the rescue, said that although the man had not done anything wrong, the advice to people trying such a journey was to let the coastguard know in advance.

He said: "When we did find him, he was quite concerned at the size of the rescue. He was quite embarrassed.

"He hadn't done anything wrong, he was enjoying his sport.

"He had a shore contact but if we had known what his intentions were, we would have re-evaluated our search and rescue efforts."

Liam McDermott of Weston lifeboat said the rescue alert had been made with good intent.

He said: "We were alerted at 6.40pm to reports of a kite surfer in difficulty stuck somewhere between Weston and Cardiff.

"Crews were sent out from all over, two from Weston, one from Penarth, one from Barry and Burnham coastguard.

"After two and a half hours searching the man rang from his mobile phone saying he believed we were looking for him but he was safe and well.

"It was a false alarm with good intent and the man was OK."