Brighton sea search for missing woman is called off

A woman has gone missing in stormy seas after a night out in Brighton.

Search teams have been stood down after gale force winds and rough seas hampered efforts to find her.

Sussex Police said that the emergency services were alerted at 2.20am today (Saturday 21 December) that the woman had been swept out to sea.

The Coastguard helicopter and RNLI Shoreham lifeboat scoured the area off Brighton beach near Digital night club. Brighton lifeboat crew members also joined the search from the shore.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said that a couple were believed to have gone into the sea.

The man made it out of the sea but the woman was swept away.

Search teams resumed their efforts in the daylight this morning without success.

The woman remains missing.