Missing sailor sparks sea search

It is not know whether the crewman was wearing a life jacket

Coastguards have launched an air and sea search after reports an Italian sailor fell overboard off the coast of West Sussex.

The man, who is a crew member of the Delia, was last seen 20 miles south of Selsey Bill at 0620 BST.

Solent Coastguard scrambled a rescue helicopter and RNLI lifeboat after they were alerted at 0720 BST but said they had not yet managed to locate the man.

It is not known whether the missing crewman was wearing a life jacket.

Colin Griffiths, of Solent Coastguard, said: "Despite the air and sea search, we have not yet been able to locate this man.

"The helicopter is continuing its sweep of the area; the weather conditions on scene are wet and windy with south westerly force five gales and a sea swell of 1.2 metres."