A motorist who fled from a crash sparked a night rescue operation involving the police helicopter and a lifeboat when he ran into the sea.

The man was in the water for more than a hour before being picked up by an inshore lifeboat crew.

The incident, in the early hours of Saturday, began with a minor collision between a car and a Ford Transit van at the junction of York Road and Western Road, Hove.

The van driver ran off and the car owner followed, while giving police a running commentary on his mobile phone.

Officers caught up with the chase at the Peace Statue on the seafront. As soon as he saw them, the suspect ran down the beach and into the sea.

However, attempts to find him proved fruitless until a member of the public told police that a man had swum ashore near the West Pier.

When officers arrived the suspect ran straight back into the sea.

The lifeboat crew picked him up and took him to the beach, where he was arrested.