Search launched for woman seen going into the water at Sussex beach

Police were called in the early hours of Sunday morning, and emergency services carried out a search throughout the night.

The woman has not been found and the search is ongoing.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: ‘At 0245 on Sunday, today February 16, police received a report that a woman, believed to be in her early 20s, had been seen to enter the water from the beach at Brighton opposite Kings Road.’

‘She's not so far been found despite an extensive search during the hours of darkness in both sea and on shore by emergency services including Coastguard, Sussex Police and Brighton Beach Patrol staff.

‘The weather has been very bad, with rain and high winds. The circumstances are currently being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.’

Gales of more than 60mph were forecast on the south coast over the weekend as Storm Dennis wrecked havoc on the south coast.

The strong winds and heavy rainfall caused widespread travel disruption, with ferry and train services being suspended or delayed.

Flood alerts are in place across Hampshire, including around the Lower Meon River and Hamble River, with residents told to be prepared for flooding.