Drifting boat sparks search

Staff at the Badger's Watch Pub, Telscombe Cliffs called the coastguard at 12.15pm after they saw a boat drifting, possibly with two people on board.

The coastguard launched a coast of the cliffs and the lifeboats from Brighton and Newhaven were called to search the water.

The coastguard helicopter was also scrambled.

The teams searched for two hours and found the boat but no one was on board.

Coastguard and the lifeboat crews said the most likely explanation was that the dinghy had come free from a yacht

because of bad weather.

Iain Johns, coxswain for Newhaven Lifeboat said: 'It seems to have been a false alarm with good intent.'