THE Southend Coastguard team was called out three times on Sunday.

Shortly after 2pm the rescue team, Essex Police, search and rescue and the police helicopter searched for a missing person in Chalkwell.

However, nothing untoward was found and and crews returned to base.

Later in the evening, shortly before 7.30pm, the Thames Coastguard was called on 999 by a member of the public concerned about a small vessel aground on Canvey Point.

The Canvey Coastguard Team and Southend RNLI hovercraft were tasked to assist, refloating the vessel and escorting it to Holehaven Creek, bringing all persons ashore safe and well.

Finally, half an hour later, Thames Coastguard received multiple reports of red distress flare sightings in the Benfleet Creek area.

Southend and Canvey Coastguard teams, as well as the Southend RNLI lifeboat and hovercraft, carried out a thorough search of the area.

However, nothing untoward was found and the sightings were thought to be as a result of malicious activity.