Police today warned someone could die after lifesaving equipment was stolen from Shoreham Harbour.

Eight lifeguard rings and safety lines were taken from the harbour's sea defences at Southwick.

They could be vital if anyone gets into difficulty while swimming off Southwick beach.

Community beat officer PC Trevor Hinckley said: "How tragic it would be for a life to be lost for the sake of a lifeline or lifering to throw.

"The items cost £25 each to replace but lost lives cannot be replaced.

"The people responsible need to realise how potentially serious their criminal activity is for everyone who uses the beach."

He also highlighted the problem of youths throwing large stones at boats and yachts from the eastern arm of the harbour.

PC Hinckley said: "It seems to be a bit of sport to the youths concerned but for the yachtsmen and women on the receiving end it is a very dangerous and frightening gauntlet that they, the police and the port authority want halted."