Two men have died after they ran into difficulties while diving in the channel this afternoon (June 14).

A coastguard helicopter was scrambled and they evacuated the two men from the diving boat.

The two men were airlifted by to the Eastbourne District General Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

The men, in their 40s and from outside Sussex, had been with a group of divers.

DCI Mark Ling said: "Tragically two divers have died after getting into difficulty while diving in the Channel.

"We are informing their families and will be conducting an investigation into the circumstances."