Divers have joined the search for missing Bradford hang-glider Brian Johnson, pictured, who was swept out to sea during a two-week holiday on Lanzarote.

A spokeswoman for the British Consulate in Las Palmas, on the nearby island of Gran Canaria, said sea conditions had improved enough today for divers to be used for the first time in the air and sea search for the Queensbury man and his friend, Ian Roebuck.

Spanish police were doing all they could, she said, and the search had not been scaled down around the rugged south coast of the island, near Puerto del Carmen.

The pair, who had been spending two weeks on the island with members of a hang-gliding club, were caught by a freak wave while photographing rough seas.

Robin Twyman, of the Foreign Office, said the Spanish Civil Guard had been unsuccessful but they had not yet called off their search.

Mr Johnson, 45, of Coniston Avenue, had set out on a two-week trip with 11 friends last week but had only been able to fly once because of high winds.

Other group members, all members of the Dales Hang Gliding and Para Gliding Club, have been helping in the search around Puerto Del Carmen where the incident happened.

His wife Maria said yesterday she had given up hope of him being found alive.

Chairman of the Dales Hang-Gliding and Para -Gliding Club, Trevor Birkbeck, said: "It's a terrible tragedy, it's devastating news for everyone who knew him.

"I've known Brian for 15 years and he's a really nice guy. Both he and Ian were really steady, they weren't ones to take risks."

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