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Falmouth Coastguard said it is currently coordinating the search for a 51-year-old man who was washed out to sea at Port William on the north Cornish Coast while scattering ashes.

Two other members of the group that he was with went into the sea in an attempt to rescue him but were unsuccessful.

Falmouth Coastguard scrambled a search and rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor, two coastguard rescue teams from Boscastle and Port Isaac began a shoreline search and the Padstow RNLI Lifeboat was launched.

Falmouth Coastguard Watch Manager, Neil Oliver, said: "We have now been searching for four hours and sadly the man has not been found yet.

The helicopter and lifeboats have now completed their searches but the two coastguard rescue teams continue their search.

Conditions this evening have been unfavourable with gale force winds and rough seas."

The African Union (AU) has authorised a force of 7,500 troops from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin to fight Boko Haram militants, Ghanian President John Mahama told journalists on Saturday.

He added that the nations will meet in the Cameroon capital next week to decide on the joint operation's command structure.

Mr Mahama said: "When they meet in Yaounde the rules of engagement will be agreed by the nations constituting the force. It will allow them to move across borders because Boko Haram does not recognise borders."

US President Barack Obama has condemned the 'heinous murder' by Islamic State of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto, the White House said.

In a statement Mr Obama said: "The United States condemns the heinous murder of Japanese citizen and journalist Kenji Goto by the terrorist group ISIL.

"Standing together with a broad coalition of allies and partners, the United States will continue taking decisive action to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL."

Chadian forces have killed 120 militants from Boko Haram in a battle in the north of neighbouring Cameroon that began when the insurgents attacked its troops, according to a statement from the army.

Three Chadian soldiers were also killed during the fighting.

Boko Haram has recently launched cross-border attacks from Nigeria into Cameroon and Chad as part of its drive for an Islamist state in the northeast of Nigeria.

Chad and Cameroon have stepped up troop deployments to fight the militants.

The Prime Minister has issued a statement tonight following reports of the murder of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto.

Japan's defence minister Gen Nakatani has said a purported Islamic State video that seems to show the murder of hostage Kenji Goto "appears genuine".

Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe has condemned the apparent killing of captured journalist Kenji Goto by Islamic State fighters.

Speaking this evening, before the video was verified, he said he would never forgive these terrorists.

Goto has been held by Islamic State militants since October. Martha Fairlie reports.

Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe has condemned the apparent killing of Kenji Goto and vowed that his country will not give into terrorism.

A spokesman for the Japanese government has condemned a video released by Islamic State extremists which appears to show journalist hostage Kenji Goto being beheaded.

Japanese chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said the cabinet would be meeting to discuss its response.