Two men on board a Belgian fishing vessel have drowned after it capsized 11 miles off Beachy Head.

The pair were among four crew on board the Noorster when it sank this morning.

The vessel ran into trouble at about 5pm last night but it wasn't until 8.30am today that a passing ship raised the alarm with Dover Coastguard.

One man was airlifted to Eastbourne District General Hospital after 13-and-a-half hours in the water.

He is suffering from hypothermia but is thought to have survived because he was wearing a special immersion suit designed to withstand cold temperatures.

A major rescue operation is in progress for a fourth missing crew member.

Lifeboat crews from Newhaven and Eastbourne, other small boats, Solent and Dover Coastguard and a naval ship are all helping with the rescue.

A spokesman for Dover Coastguard said: "One man was pulled from the water. We believe one man is still trapped."