A hero paddleboarder came to the rescue of two dogs struggling hundreds of metres out to sea.

The coastguard and RNLI were called to Hove beach near the King Alfred Leisure Centre on Sunday morning after a member of the public spotted a person and two dogs in distress and heading out to sea.

The Brighton lifeboat was on scene 16 minutes after the initial call at 9.52am and began searching the water, cutting the crew's Sunday training short.

Do YOU know who the paddleboarder was? Email andrew.gardner@theargus.co.uk

While lifeboat crews and the coastguard looked out to sea, a heroic paddleboarder - whose identity remains a mystery - grabbed the dogs from the water and brought them back to shore.

Lifeboat crews searching for the "person" reported by the public soon discovered this was a seal.

Brighton RNLI volunteer helm Ben Hylands said: "As we were starting our Sunday training and meeting our new station chairman for the first time the urgent tasking came through for us to assist with two dogs and a person in the water in Hove.

‘As we made our best speed to the scene, as helm I was contemplating what would be needed first and if there could be more people in the water.

Read more: Meet the RNLI volunteers who have been serving for decades

"We launched swiftly and were on scene in minutes to find our colleagues at Brighton Seafront Office had just moments before assisted a paddle boarder who fetched the dogs back to shore.

"You never really know what you are going to be confronted with when you arrive on scene, especially when animals are involved."

The RNLI has given safety advice for dog owners visiting the coast.

  •  Keep dogs on a lead if you’re close to cliff edges or fast-flowing rivers.

  • If your dog goes into the water or gets stuck in mud, don't go after them. Move to a place your dog can reach safely and call them.

  • If you're worried about your dog, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard