A search has resumed this morning for a person believed to have gone into the water off the coast of Brighton.

Emergency services, including volunteers from the RNLI and Sussex Police, were called to the scene near Brighton Palace Pier shortly before 4pm yesterday.

The search for the person carried on for several hours, with teams from Newhaven, Littlehampton and Shoreham helping to try and locate the missing person.

Two search and rescue helicopters from Lee-on-Solent in Hampshire and Lydd in Kent also scoured over the coast to assist with the search.

Lifeboats and the helicopters moved further away from the shore after sunset at around 8pm, scanning the sea around half a mile off the coast.

The Argus: Coastguard crews and police continued the search well into the night Coastguard crews and police continued the search well into the night (Image: The Argus)

However, the search was suspended shortly before 10pm - almost six hours after emergency crews were first called to the scene.

The search has now resumed this morning.

A coastguard spokeswoman said: “Shortly after 4pm yesterday (April 12) HM Coastguard received reports of a person in the water at Doughnut Groyne close to Brighton Pier.

The Argus: Lifeboats battled treacherous conditions during the searchLifeboats battled treacherous conditions during the search (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

“An extensive search of the area took place throughout the evening, involving Newhaven, Littlehampton and Shoreham Coastguard Rescue Teams, alongside Shoreham and Newhaven RNLI all-weather lifeboats, Sussex Police and the Coastguard helicopters from Lee-On-Solent and Lydd.

“The search was suspended around overnight and resumed this morning.

“The search is ongoing.”