Updated 1.30 p.m.

The Armed Forces have widened their search for a fisherman who has been missing since yesterday afternoon.

A fixed wing aircraft, an Italian Military Mission helicopter and a number of patrol boats have been deployed to the search, which is focused on the south east of Malta but actually covers an area from Ghajn Tuffieha all the way round to St Paul's Bay.

The 58-year-old went fishing near St Thomas Bay early yesterday morning and was reported missing by his family in the late afternoon.

Family members told timesofmalta.com the man was fishing a few miles out, close to 'the ships' at San Tumas.

This is possibly a reference to Hurd's Bank, which is off the Marsascala coast where ships regularly drop anchor for bunkering.

Although the family was told by authorities that his most recent contact by mobile phone was from the Dingli repeater, he never mentioned Dingli to the family.

The man was alone of his 13-foot boat.