FEARS that two people may have drowned in a culvert pipe in Bexhill Road in St Leonards have reduced after an inspection found no bodies inside the pipe.

Emergency services were called to the pipe just after 2pm yesterday after reports that a couple had been seen going into the pipe but had not been seen coming out as the water began to rise.

Firefighters, police and the coastguard could not find the couple and the search was eventually called off due to the high tide.

A further search was carried in the early hours of this morning but the pipe was found to be empty.