A lifeboat responded to a report of a swimmer in trouble off Worthing.

The Shoreham inshore lifeboat was launched after a man was seen in the sea off Brooklands Pleasure Park in East Worthing yesterday.

The man had gone into the water to recover what was believed to be a canoe and his wife, concerned for his safety, called the coastguard.

The lifeboat reached the scene in just 15 minutes and found that the canoe was in fact a sailing racing marker snagged on a groyne.

By the time the lifeboat arrived the man had already made his way back to shore.

The lifeboat stood down and returned to station.