Rescuers have called off their search for a man swept off Brighton Pier on Friday night.

The Coastguard resumed their search on Saturday morning, but said no trace of the man had been found.

A Coastguard spokesman said "The search has been stood down with nothing found."

"As far as we are aware we don't know who it is or why he was there."

A massive air sea rescue operation was launched on Friday night after security staff on Brighton Pier raised the alarm after hearing cries for help.

A man was spotted clinging to girders under the middle of the pier before ferocious seas swept him away.

The victim, thought to be aged in his late 20s and on his own, was blown from the end of the pier by winds of up to 70mph.

50 rescuers joined a coastguard helicopter in the frantic search, which only recovered a pair of trainers.

Eyewitness Steven Reader said: "We heard a scream and saw him go over. He was caught by a gust and didn't stand a chance.

"He was clinging on for about ten minutes. Security staff climbed down and they had hold of him but the waves pulled him down."

They watched in horror as the man was swept into the sea by a huge wave and disappeared in seconds.

Mr Reader, 17, from Doncaster, added: "Everyone was just in shock. I think he was dead by the time the waves took him.

"The wind was terrible and it was cold. It was no wonder it happened - it was hard even to walk."

Sea conditions off Brighton were so poor the in-shore lifeboat, small enough to go under the pier, could not be launched from the marina.

But a coastguard helicopter and two larger lifeboats, from Shoreham and Newhaven, were scrambled to the scene.

Coastguard spokesman Mark Clark said on Friday night: "Conditions were appalling. Water temperatures are just eight degrees centigrade and the wind has been whipping up to Storm Force Nine.

"In these type of conditions the chances of survival are very small."