Two men have been praised for their bravery after leaping into the sea to save a woman from drowning.

Lifeboat crews were alerted yesterday at 11.10pm after the two passers-by spotted the woman in distress near the West Pier in Brighton and jumped in to help her.

Russell Wood dived in first and was followed by Dave Kamici when he saw Mr Wood getting into difficulties.

After an hour-and-a-half the lifeboat managed to pick up all three people and take them to be treated by paramedics.

Mr Wood was treated for mild hypothermia.

Dave Adamson, Press officer for the Brighton lifeboat, said: "We were alerted after two men had gone into the sea to try to help the woman. We don't know how she got into the sea in the first place.

"There was quite a lot of surf, which was a problem, and obviously the rescue took place in complete darkness. They started on the east side of the pier but the tide pushed them under the structure and they were picked up on the west side.

"Underneath the West Pier is not a very pleasant place to be. Even though we have had really warm weather the sea is still really cold.

"The crew wish to express their recognition of the courage displayed by both rescuers.

"They saw someone in distress and went to her aid. It was a very brave thing to do."