Hopes of finding a missing diver alive were diminishing today as a huge air and sea search continued off the East Sussex coast.

Lifeboats and a fixed-wing aircraft were today searching 40sq miles of sea off Lydd for the diver, who was reported missing at about 2pm yesterday.

Crews from Rye Harbour and Dungeness lifeboat stations joined a Coastguard helicopter in a six-hour search, which was called off at 10pm yesterday. Lifeboat crews set out again at first light today.

It is believed the missing man, who has not been named, was diving from a launch hired from Eastbourne which had left Sovereign Harbour early yesterday.

The sea off Hastings and Rye is popular with divers as it is strewn with wrecks.

Coastguard teams are also searching the coastline in case the missing man has been washed up or spotted leaving the water.

A spokesman said: "At the moment we are not giving up hope. The weather has been favourable and the seas have been calm so there is still a chance we could find him alive.

"We will continue to search today then review the situation again."