Two divers were rescued during an air and sea operation off Eastbourne last night when their boat lost its power and drifted away.

A lifeboat scrambled to rescue the pair also suffered problems when it began to take on water.

The drama began about 22 miles south of Sovereign Harbour when a distress call was sent by the skipper of the 24ft Newhaven-based Sarah Jane, which had lost power.

At the time the divers, who had paid to charter the boat, were underwater and had no idea of the events unfolding at the surface.

The skipper tried to drift toward where he thought the divers would resurface but ended up going in the opposite direction.

Newhaven and Eastbourne lifeboats were alerted along with the Lee-on-Solent Coastguard helicopter.

But the Newhaven lifeboat started taking in water and returned to port. Hastings lifeboat was put on stand-by.

One of the divers was able to swim back to the Sarah Jane and the second was winched to safety by the helicopter. He was then dropped to the Eastbourne lifeboat to return to land.

The Sarah Jane was towed back to Sovereign Harbour by Eastbourne lifeboat.

The divers and the Sarah Jane returned to the harbour at 1am today.