A pilot missing after a plane crash off the Kent coast near Dungeness has been named today.

He is Sascha Schornstein, 36, a German national from London.

A massive international air-sea search was launched when his light aircraft plunged into the English Channel at about 2.30pm on Sunday, 15 miles south of Dungeness Point.

The search was called off by yesterday morning when the one-man aircraft's wreckage was found, but Mr Schornstein remained untraceable.

Coastguard officials said the pilot was feared lost - but police have now launched a missing person inquiry.

Hampshire Police are now leading the inquiry after Mr Schornstein had taken off from the county's Blackbushe Airport at 10.48am.

Mr Schornstein was flying in a Cirrus SR22 to Le Touquet in France, but it did not arrive.

Sgt Andy Thomas, of Hampshire Police, said: "The Marine and Coastguard Agency co-ordinated an extensive search of Mr Schornstein and, although a large amount of wreckage was found, no casualty was located and the decision was taken yesterday not to recommence.

"We are now conducting a missing person investigation and are working with international police as part of our enquiries.

"I'm keeping an open mind as to what has happened to Mr Schornstein.

"We're releasing a picture of him in case he has been spotted since or if anyone else has important information that can assist us."

Sgt Thomas said his force was also liaising with the British government's Air Accidents Investigation Branch, which is trying to find the cause of the crash.

A police family liaison officer is also in contact with Mr Schornstein's wife to keep her informed.

Sunday's search involved Dungeness RNLI and their counterparts in Calais and Boulogne as well as French and British rescue helicopters.

Anyone with information about Mr Schornstein is asked to phone Hampshire Police on 101 or 0845 045 4545.