UPDATE Two people appeared to be struggling in the water but both made it safely ashore. Neither needed help nor treatment.
Search crews were called out to reports of two people struggling in the water shortly before 10pm this evening (Tuesday 7 July).
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A coastguard helicopter joined local coastguard volunteers from Shoreham and Newhaven and the RNLI lifeboat crew based at Brighton Marina and at Shoreham.
Officers from Sussex Police also joined the shore-based teams, with an ambulance crew on standby.
The searchers were scouring an area of the sea between the Palace Pier and Hove seafront for more than an hour.
Just after 11pm, they were stood down.
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Alcohol is a dangerous potion