Two men swept out to sea in the early hours are believed to both be from Brighton. 

A group of four friends - all men in their 20s - had gone to the beach near the Palace Pier. Three entered the water, with two of them being tragically swept out to sea.

Initial information leads officers to believe that the second man to have been swept out had gone to the rescue of the first. These men, aged 23 and 24, are from Brighton. In the group was a 26-year-old man from Brighton and a 23-year-old from London.

DCI Carwyn Hughes said: "This is a tragic incident and we are liaising closely with the men's families. Every effort was made to find and rescue the two men in trecherous sea conditions during the night. Sadly the search is now focused on recovery rather than rescue.

"This morning HM Coastguard are recommencing a search to the west of the Palace Pier and this is being supported by Sussex Police specialist search officers and Sussex Search and Rescue volunteers and dog teams on the relevant beach areas. 

"The local Brighton seafront officers have been maintaining searches of the beach throughout the night and will continue to do so. Unfortunately the weather conditions proclude the use of aerial sweeps by the National Police Air Support Service.

"This is a very sad situation and with the sea condition as it is I would urge people for their safety to refrain from entering the sea."