The body of a man has been found by search and rescue teams after a boat sank in the English Channel off Shoreham.

One man was pulled alive from the sea by fishermen and two others are still thought to be missing.

The boat is believed to have come out from Brighton Marina with four people on board, Sussex Police said.

A major search including lifeboats and helicopters is under way after the vessel sank shortly before 6am.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "The body of one man has been recovered from the sea and brought ashore by Coastguard helicopter.

"A search of sea and coastline is under way to find any survivors."

Major search off #Shoreham for two men on boat that sunk in early hours. One man rescued, but another sadly died. https://t.co/Leqw3Q6cn2

— Sussex Police (@sussex_police) August 6, 2017

Lifeboats from Brighton and Shoreham and two coastguard helicopters are assisting in the search for the missing men, along with other local boats.

The 45-year-old survivor, from London, was found clinging to a buoy by commercial fishermen about two miles west of Shoreham Harbour just after dawn, police said.
He has been taken to hospital.

The UK Coastguard and Sussex Police are searching beaches between Brighton and Worthing for the two other men.

An investigation involving the Marine Accident Investigation Branch has been launched.