Emergency services have confirmed they halted a search for a missing swimmer after they were unable to find them in the water.

The coastguard and RNLI were searching at Brighton beach from 6pm yesterday (September 5) before a helicopter arrived on scene roughly an hour later.

However the incident was scaled down when darkness fell and there is still no sign of the missing swimmer this morning.

The Argus: The search began close to the shoreThe search began close to the shore (Image: The Argus)

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A spokesman for the coastguard said: “HM Coastguard was alerted to a possible person struggling the water earlier this evening at Brighton beach.

“Shoreham RNLI lifeboat, Shoreham and Newhaven coastguard rescue teams and the coastguard helicopter conducted a thorough search of the area, however, nothing was found and the search has now been suspended pending any further information.”

Dozens of people were packed onto the beach enjoying the sunshine while the coastguard helicopter hovered metres above the pebbles.