A lifeboat taking crews' wives on a pleasure trip had to be diverted when a body was found in the sea.

The coastal cruise on Saturday was a thank-you for the support shown by wives of the Newhaven crew.

The lifeboat received a radio request after the Sussex Police helicopter crew spotted a woman's body off Birling Gap, Eastbourne.

The lifeboat joined the Birling Gap safety crew, recovered the body and took it into Newhaven harbour where an ambulance and the coroner's officer were waiting.

The woman is yet to be identified.

On Friday, the lifeboat rescued six people on board the 21ft cabin cruiser Golden Egg which suffered engine failure in Seaford Bay.