A LARGE search operation launched after clothes were found abandoned on a beach has been suspended.

Police, lifeboat and coastguard crews were called to Worthing seafront shortly before 11am on Thursday after the clothes were found by a passerby.

The coastguard rescue helicopter was called to assist and was seen searching an area near Worthing Pier throughout the afternoon.

A witness, who asked not to be named, said there was a “large search operation” under way when they visited the seafront shortly after noon.

“There are police, RNLI, coastguard, everyone is out searching,” he said. “And the search seems to be getting bigger as well. I’m not sure what they are searching for, but they have called in a lot of people to help.”

The Argus:

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has now confirmed the search operation has been "suspended pending further information".

Sussex Police told The Argus on Thursday that officers were working to identify the owner of the clothing.

A spokeswoman said: "Police and the coastguard units conducted a search of the shoreline and sea after items of clothing were found on the beach at Splashpoint, East Worthing, just before 11am on Thursday.

"Enquiries are ongoing to identify the owner of the clothing and there are no further details available at this time."

No further information on the search has been released by the force.

The Argus:

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) spokeswoman confirmed that the search was sparked when a passerby spotted the unattended pile of clothes on the pebbles, and said the search had been suspended on Thursday evening as "nothing untoward" had been found.

She said: "A search launched after the discovery of clothes on a beach at Worthing has now been suspended pending further information.

The Argus:

"HM Coastguard coordinated the search and rescue response from 11am, which involved coastguard rescue teams from Littlehampton, Newhaven and Shoreham, the HM Coastguard helicopter from Lydd, Littlehampton’s RNLI lifeboat and Sussex Police.

"The search was extensive throughout the day but nothing untoward was found and the search was suspended that evening, pending further information."

Yesterday, the MCA told The Argus the search remained suspended.