Nine people were rescued from heavy seas off the East Sussex coast yesterday.

The 23ft fishing boat Mary B was 500 metres off Newhaven's east pier when it developed engine trouble and started drifting to shore.

The vessel, with four people on board, was towed into harbour by the Newhaven lifeboat.

Three hours later the lifeboat launched to look for two overdue divers from the dive boat Hawk One, seven miles off Newhaven.

The Coastguard helicopter from Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, joined the hunt.

One diver was recovered by the dive boat crew and the second was pulled to safety on board the lifeboat.

Both were checked over by a paramedic and brought into Newhaven.

In a third incident, a father and his two teenage daughters were pulled to safety after their yacht came within feet of being driven aground.

The Brighton Marina lifeboat went to the aid of the Horizon II as it was being driven on to the beach at Saltdean.

The vessel was towed to deeper water.