A search was launched for a missing child after a woman's body was washed up beneath the Palace Pier in Brighton last night.

Police were alerted after reports the middle-aged woman had been seen with a youngster before her body was spotted in the sea beneath Horatio's Bar.

Coastguards and lifeboat crews carried out a search after the alarm was raised by bar supervisor Richard Cragg at 5.35pm.

The search was scaled down at 8pm when no trace of the child could be found. Mr Cragg alerted emergency teams after a pier worker spotted the body.

Lifeguards paddled to the scene in kayaks and he helped them to lift the woman on to the decking.

Coastguard Mick Hunter said: "We found a woman's body underneath Horatio's Bar.

"We mounted a search because initial reports were that she had a child with her."

Inspector Steve Curry said: "After a report from a member of the public to a security officer, a body was recovered by the lifeguards.

"Another security guard overheard a snippet of a conversation that there was the possibility the woman had had a child with her.

"As a result an extensive search took place but at 8pm we were fairly certain there was no one else in the water."

Anyone with information should call 0845 6070999.