Royal Navy boats have been seen in action off the coast of Sussex.
But a Navy spokesman said there was no threat to national security, just the need to enforce European fisheries regulations. The boats were seen off Hove.
The spokesman said: "The boats were either River Class or Hunter Class mine sweepers.
"They are enforcing fisheries legislation and regulations governing net sizes, the catching of endangered species and so on.
"A customs boat also works the coast out of Dover. It is grey and may have been mistaken for a Navy vessel."
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