LIFEBOAT crews received their first call out of 2018 just minutes after midnight to reports of a distressed woman dangerously near the sea in Shoreham.

The woman had climbed over the wrong side of the safety barrier at Norfolk Bridge and was being spoken to by a member of the public when Coastguard officers arrived.

The team coaxed her back to the right side of the railings before leaving her in the hands of the police.

Shoreham Lifeboats tweeted: launching our inshore lifeboat to a distressed woman on the wrong side of Norfolk Bridge.

They later added: "The woman is now safe and in the care of Sussex Police. "

The call came in after Adur and Worthing Police warned New Year revellers not to go near the water's edge.

Earlier on New Year's Eve Adur and Worthing Police tweeted: "It should go without saying, but please avoid the waters edge tonight. The tide is high and the waves are heavy. Let's not start 2018 with any unnecessary tragedies."