Coastguards have been inundated with calls about a new weather mast which residents are confusing for a ship in distress.

The new 110m mast which lies seven miles out to sea from Worthing Pier has been built to gather wind and weather information on the proposed Rampion Offshore Wind Farm.

For the last week Solent Coastguard have received dozens of calls from residents mistaking the flashing red and white lights from the mast as a ship’s mayday call when in fact it is signalling a warning to approaching ships in Morse code.