A coastguard search and helicopter has this morning been sent to assist an injured crewman on a North Sea oil platform.

A call was received by the Coastguard Operations Centre in Shetland at 7.45am today to provide assistance at the Taqa North Cormorant Oil Platform, situated approximately 100 miles to the north-east of Shetland.

Rescue 900 from Sumburgh has been tasked to the incident, leaving base shortly after 9am.

A spokeswoman said: “We are currently assisting with a medevac from an oil platform in the North Sea.

“We have received reports of an injured crewman on the North Cormorant Oil Platform and have sent a search and rescue helicopter to assist.”

The extent of the injuries sustained is currently unknown.