Air-sea search teams worked in raging winds and rough seas today to save a fisherman who was flung overboard.

Two lifeboats and ten members of a coastguard rescue team scoured Shoreham Harbour for the man in his 20s.

Waves crashed against the boats and a rescue helicopter searched from above in the race against time.

But by midday hopes of finding the man alive were fading.

The man was last spotted on the rear deck of the two-man trawler Miranda, based at Shoreham, just after it reached the harbour limits at about 8am.

When the skipper turned around minutes later, his crew member had disappeared.

Peter Baker, deputy district controller at Solent Coastguard, said: "The conditions in which to search were poor, with rough seas and winds of force eight.

"Although visibility was quite good, with temperatures of just 14 degrees and white water being whipped up by the winds, every minute that passed was crucial to this man's survival."

Meanwhile a barge carrying stone, which was anchored off Shoreham, came loose and drifted because of the harsh weather conditions at 9am today.

Mr Baker said: "The barge is now ashore. It is not a serious problem because it is in a safe condition and has no fuel on it."

In a separate incident, a member of the public called 999 after spotting body parts washed up on the beach by Brunswick Square, Hove, at 9.45am.

Officers could see the rest of the body in the water near the shore but their efforts to recover it were hampered by the weather. Sussex Police said investigations were ongoing.