The managers of the Crown & Anchor pub in Shoreham-by-Sea say that they feared the worst when the scale of emergency became clear on Tuesday.

Fiona Stephens and Jen Ashworth were both in the flat above the pub when the incident began to unfold.

"We kept saying to each other, 'something really bad has happened'. You could hear the helicopters, the sirens, it was awful," Stephens tells BBC Radio Sussex, external.

Ashworth says what has happened "puts things into perspective".

"It's an absolute tragedy for their family, it's horrendous," she says.

Stephens adds: "I really don't think there's any words."

Image source, Lucinda Adam/BBC

Ashley Jones, head of water safety and education at the Royal Life Saving Society, tells Radio 4's Today Programme: "It's important to give our condolences to all of those who have lost friends and family.

"We want to see drowning treated as the public health issue it is. At the moment, it is too often seen as a tragic accident.

"It is a preventable issue."

Image source, George Carden/BBC

Friends Liz Donnelly and Lee Smith, both from Shoreham-by-Sea, are among those to lay flowers this morning.

Donnelly says: "It's quite emotional. It's just a real shock to such a small town."

The pair say their children both regularly use Kingston Beach, something which puts the tragedy into even greater perspective.

Smith adds: "Our kids were here, the night before they were here. It makes you realise how thankful we are that it wasn't one of them.

“But at the same time, the sadness of another family that are now going to go through this."

The Shoreham Beach Residents' Association says its thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the three people who died on Tuesday, as well as the girl currently in critical condition.

Paying tribute to the emergency services, the association says the response was “phenomenal” and “sent shockwaves across the local community".

"We are indebted to Shoreham RNLI, HM Coastguard, Sussex Police, the South East Coast Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance Service Kent Surrey Sussex," they add.

Image source, Eddie Mitchell

More now from local MP Tom Rutland, who praised the emergency services for their "incredible" response to the events on Tuesday afternoon.

He says: "The police, ambulance service, air ambulance, RNLI, the coastguard - it was an incredible effort.

"The police briefed me in the afternoon what had happened and I have been able to thank them and the RNLI.

"I've spoken to the Maritime Minister, and the government will be reaching out to offer support where it can."

Local parish church The Good Shepherd, near the beach in Shoreham-by-Sea, says that it will be open all day for anyone "saddened by the tragic news".

It adds that it will be a "quiet place" to reflect and send prayers for the deceased and the recovery of the surviving young girl.

"We give thanks for the heroic work of our emergency services,” it adds.

George Carden
in Shoreham

Despite the events of yesterday, some people are swimming in the sea this morning.

This section of the coast is quite popular with sea swimmers and is quite protected from the sea.

But as you go further out, the River Adur meets you and the open sea.

Yesterday, it was fairly rough conditions compared to what we have seen recently.

Lucinda Adam
in Shoreham

Tom Rutland, Labour MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, has described it as a "very sad morning" and says his thoughts are with friends and family of those who died.

"We are all hoping for the recovery of the young girl who is in hospital." he adds.

The incident, described by BBC reporter Callum French as "the biggest turnout [of emergency services] I have seen", took place at Kingston Beach, a short distance from Shoreham Port.

Shoreham-by-Sea is about a 6.3 mile (10.1km) drive away from Brighton.

George Carden
in Shoreham

There is a real sombre mood down here at Kingston Beach, in Shoreham-by-Sea, on a rainy morning, where two bouquets of flowers have been laid near the RNLI lifeboat station in memory of the three people who have died.

No emergency services are here this morning and the A259 has been reopened after its closure last night.

A number of TV crews are also at the scene.

Floral tributes have been laid in memory of the three people who have died after getting into difficulty in the water off the coast of Shoreham-by-Sea.

Reporters from the BBC will be speaking to the local community this morning as it tries to come to terms with the tragedy.

Image source, Eddie Mitchell

Image source, Eddie Mitchell

We learned yesterday that three members of the same family had died after getting into difficulty in the water off the coast of Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.

Sussex Police said a man, woman and teenage girl had died, while a younger girl from the same family was in hospital in a critical condition.

Emergency services were called at about 15:00 BST on Tuesday, with the coastguard, police, several ambulances and an air ambulance rushing to the scene.

A BBC reporter in Shoreham says that locals have been greatly affected by the tragic incident.

Image source, Eddie Mitchell

Three members of the same family - a man, woman and teenage girl - have died after getting into difficulty in the sea in the town of Shoreham, near Brighton.

Another girl - also from the same family - is in a critical condition after being pulled out of the sea and is being treated in hospital.

Police say emergency services were called this afternoon to support four people in difficulty in the sea. Coastguard crews, police, several ambulances and an air ambulance rushed to the scene. The three died despite the best efforts of paramedics, police said.

The next of kin have been informed.

The BBC's reporter in Shoreham Sam Harrison says local have been hit hard - there is a great level of shock in the town.

Local MP Tom Rutland says he is deeply saddened by the tragedy.

"I know the whole community here in Shoreham will be hoping and praying for the recovery of the young girl receiving medical treatment," he says.

We're pausing our coverage, read our report here.

Tom Rutland, the MP for Shoreham, says he is "deeply saddened" by this evening's "tragic news".

"My thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives," he says in a statement shared on Facebook.

"I know the whole community here in Shoreham will be hoping and praying for the recovery of the young girl receiving medical treatment."

Sam Harrison
Reporting from Shoreham

It has been a tragic evening here in Shoreham.

It was a truly chaotic scene earlier today. Emergency services were called here as four people got into difficulty in the water.

There was an enormous emergency response and people were wondering what had happened.

We now know a man, woman and teenage girl have tragically lost their lives. They have all been confirmed from the same family.

A younger girl has been taken to hospital in critical condition.

This has caused a great level of shock. It will hit locals very hard.

People were taken aback by the scale of the operation, and people knew immediately that something very serious had happened. There was a huge wave of ambulances in the road stretching behind me.

Collis says all four people entered the water from land for a swim and got into difficulty.

The coastguard is not searching for anyone else.

He thanks the public for their patience and asks anyone with information or video footage to contact the police online.

A younger girl has been taken to hospital and she is in critical condition, Collis says.

He adds that all four people who got into trouble were from the same family.

Chief Superintendent James Collis from Sussex Police is giving a press conference.

He says around 16:00 BST this afternoon emergency services were called to support four people in difficulty in the sea.

All four were brought to shore.

Three people - a man, a woman and teenage girl - have died.

Sussex Police will be giving an update shortly on the emergency in Shoreham. We will keep you updated with the key developments.

Sam Harrison
BBC News

The strip of beachfront in front of Shoreham Port remains empty as darkness falls on the Sussex coast. Locals are still not allowed close to the water.

Meanwhile, a new police cordon has been set up around the scene.

A significant police presence has continued here while traffic is being routed away from this section of the A259.