Emergency services have launched a search for a missing swimmer at Camber Sands in East Sussex, the RNLI has said.

The police and coastguards are also involved in the operation near Rye, an RNLI spokeswoman said.

Sussex Police said a member of the public alerted emergency services after seeing an abandoned pair of flip-flops next to the sea.

"A female was seen diving into the sea at this location. Officers at the scene are doing coastal checks to see if there are any persons in the sea having difficulty, " a spokesperson said.

On Wednesday, five young men from London died when two of the group became overwhelmed in the water during a day trip to the popular sandy beach, and their friends attempted to rescue them.

Brothers Ken and Kobi Nathan, aged 18 and 22, died along with Inthushan Sriskantharasa, 23, Nitharsan Ravi, 22, and 27-year-old Gurushanth Srithavarajah.

The deaths prompted authorities to deploy lifeguards on the normally unpatrolled seafront for the busy Bank Holiday weekend.

Up to six RNLI lifeguards were due to be on duty at the beach, as well as team giving out safety information.