THREE Russian sailors have been found safe and well on an island in the Bristol Channel after going on a drinking trip in an inflatable boat to the resort made famous by the hit TV sitcom Gavin And Stacey.

A major search and rescue operation was sparked after the men were reported missing from the Dutch-registered coaster Alana Evita, anchored two miles (3.2km) off Minehead in Somerset.

They left the ship on Wednesday night - launching the vessel's 13ft (4m) rigid inflatable boat - to go drinking in Barry, South Wales, eight miles (13km) away.

They left the popular resort at 3.45am but the alarm was raised when they had not returned to their ship by 7am.

An RNLI Lifeboat spokesman said: "Five lifeboats from Minehead, Burnham-on-Sea, Barry Dock and Penarth were launched, together with a Coastguard helicopter.

"But shortly before 8.30am the men and their boat were spotted on Flat Holm island, four miles (6.4km) off the Welsh coast."