Funding plea from patrol charity after beach deaths

A Brighton beach patrol volunteer says it is a "no brainer" to help a charity with more funding to try to protect people in the early hours of the morning.

Jake Cressey and other volunteers at Brighton Beach Patrol regularly monitor the beach on quad bikes from 22:00 to 04:00 BST on Fridays and Saturdays, helping people who could get into trouble by getting into the water.

But Cressey said, while the charity receives support from the city council and Sussex Police, more funding would allow the patrol to widen its remit and help more people on the seafront.

His funding call comes after the deaths three women, who entered the water on the morning of 13 May.

Speaking to BBC South East, Cressey said: "We have the equipment, we just need that extra bit of funding to keep us going.

"For something so small, like the money, it would make such a big difference to the community.

"It's so frustrating. To me it's a no brainer."

Cressey, who volunteers for the family-run charity operated by his mother and step-father, said extra funding would help with the upkeep of the quad bikes and would help them to run more than one at the time.

Brighton Beach Patrol was set up in 2014 and owns two quadbikes but only uses one at a time due to funding constraints, he said.

Sussex Police, the beach patrol and partners have increased their presence over the bank holiday weekend in a bit to step up safety measures during the summer months.

It comes after three sisters died in the sea off Brighton after entering the water at on 13 May.

Inquests into the deaths of Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, from Uxbridge, are due to open on Friday.

Brighton resident Adama Jones told BBC South East that hearing of the deaths "shook me", while Manlafi Jeng said she feels safe but said there was "capacity to that safeness".

Jones said she would reconsider going out in Brighton and would instead look to London because she feels safer going out there.

On the increased presence, Sussex Police Ch Supt Adam Hays said: "One incident is one too many.

"We want people to come and enjoy themselves but to stay safe and look after themselves.

"It [the death of the three women] is an unimaginably tragic event and the investigation is moving at pace."

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