Lifeboats from Workington and Silloth aided the search

The angler is said to have lost his balance in the wind conditions near Meikle Ross near Kirkcudbright.

His friend alerted the coastguard shortly before 1100 BST on Sunday.

A Royal Navy rescue helicopter, four lifeboats from Kirkcudbright, Silloth, Workington and Ramsay and two coastguard rescue teams from Kirkcudbright and Port Ling are involved in the search.

A spokesman for Liverpool coastguard said: "At 1046 BST we received a report from a member of the public that an angler had fallen off rocks into the sea at Meikle Ross, near Kirkcudbright in south west Scotland.

"A search is underway.

"We initiated a full search and requested the RNLI lifeboats from Workington, Kirkcudbright, Ramsey and Silloth.

"Coastguard Rescue teams from Port Ling and Kirkcudbright have been searching the shoreline and the rescue helicopter from Prestwick is also involved in the search."

The angler, reported to be a 40-year-old man wearing waders, had been fishing from rocks when he was seen falling into the water and was not seen to surface.

Coastguard officials said the sea conditions at the scene were moderate to rough.