A CARGO ship which sank in the Irish Sea sparking a major rescue mission was heading for the Solent, it has been revealed.

One person died and another five are still missing after the 81-metre carrier sank some 10 miles west of the Lleyn peninsula in north Wales.

Today it emerged that the vessel was carrying 3,000 tonnes of limestone from Colwyn Bay to Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

Prince William co-piloted the Royal Air Force helicopter which rescued two people after the vessel was hit by an ''enormous wave'' in the Irish Sea.

The Duke of Cambridge was called into action after the Swanland ship issued a mayday call at around 2am when its hull cracked.

Two members of the Russian crew of the Cook Islands-registered vessel were pulled from the water soon after the alarm was raised.

They were airlifted to safety by William's Sea King helicopter and were later taken to hospital in Bangor for precautionary checks.

Another crew member was found in the water later in the morning but has been confirmed dead, said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Two RAF Valley search and rescue helicopters were deployed to assist with the rescue operation.