Four teenagers were found clinging to a pier after their dinghy capsized near the West Pier in Brighton.

The young men were rescued by a lifeboat crew after their boat sank beneath the pier last night.

The friends had gone to sea in a small inflatable dinghy when it suffered a puncture, capsized and sank.

They were left stranded and clutching the struts beneath the deserted pier.

A Brighton lifeboat crew raced to the scene after a bystander raised the alarm.

The helmsman managed to manoeuvre the lifeboat into position to reach the youths and haul them on board.

None of the boys needed medical treatment.