Search for dead boy's father ends

Alan Watkins was seen entering the sea in his dinghy with his son

An air-and-sea search for a missing father whose two-year-old son was found floating in the English Channel has been called off.

The search for Alan Watkins, 50, from Southwark, south-east London, began after his son Arun was found off Littlehampton, West Sussex, on Sunday.

His 5ft-long dinghy, containing nappies and a child's armbands, was found drifting in the sea close by.

Arun died in Worthing Hospital two hours after he was found.

Sussex Police said it was thought Arun was with his father when he went missing.

Survival time in the water at this time of year is probably about 20 minutes Ross Bowman, lifeboat helmsman

A member of the public is believed to have seen them entering the sea on their dinghy at Sea Road, Littlehampton, between 1630 and 1700 BST.

Police have urged any witnesses who may have seen Mr Watkins pushing the dinghy out to sea to contact them.

Ross Bowman, a helmsman on one of the lifeboats used in the search, said it was doubtful Mr Watkins would be found alive.

He told the BBC: "It's been a long time. Survival time in the water at this time of year is probably about 20 minutes."

Police said Mr Watkins and his son were reported missing by his wife late on Sunday night and a caravanette registered to him was found parked in Sea Road.

Lifeboats have been searching the area outside Littlehampton Marina

Det Chief Insp Adam Hibbert said Arun had on a sunblock suit but was not wearing a buoyancy aid.

He said police were working on a "number of hypotheses" as to the circumstances of the incident, including that of the parents' domestic situation.

"We had to deliver a terrible piece of news to the boy's mum last night and she is having to deal with that," he said.

"It would be wrong of us to run in and ask her so many questions so quickly."

It is thought the family visited the Littlehampton area last year but it is not known if they had any other local connections.

The search on land and sea for Mr Watkins has included lifeboats, a helicopter and dogs.

Coastguard spokesman Ross Greenhill said an extensive search of the coast had been made.

"Our search is now not expected to resume unless further information comes to light," he said.

Sussex Police said its specialist search team and the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Technical Rescue Team would continue to make further searches of the coast over the next 24 hours.