Hopes are fading for two Dutch divers in their 60s who disappeared while diving in Scapa Flow, a body of water in the Orkney islands.

An air and sea search was launched on Tuesday afternoon when the men failed to return, despite what the BBC said was near perfect diving conditions.

The pair had been diving on the sunken German warship SMS Brummer. Scapa Flow contains many wrecks of the German Fleet which were scuttled in the waters in 1919.

The Brummer is not considered a difficult dive, Nos television said.