A father has described feeling "unbearable grief" after his three "beloved" daughters died in the sea off Brighton beach.

Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walter, 32, and Rebecca Walter, 31, from the Uxbridge area of London, died in a "terrible tragedy" on 13 May, police said.

Emergency services were called at about 05:45 BST to a report of a person in the water near Black Rock car park in Madeira Drive. Two other bodies were also recovered from the sea nearby.

Paying tribute, their father, Joseph, said in a statement: "No words can truly describe the pain of losing three daughters in the prime of their lives."

He continued: "Jane, Christina, and Becky were more than daughters to me; they were my joy, my strength, and the beautiful light that filled our family with happiness and love."

As though speaking to his daughters, Joseph said: "Each of you was unique and precious in your own special way.

"Your smiles brightened dark days, your laughter brought comfort, and your presence made life more meaningful.

"Though your time on earth was short, the impact you made will remain in our hearts forever.

"You were deeply loved, and you will always be deeply missed."

Sussex Police said an investigation into how the three came to be in the water was ongoing.

It added: "There is no evidence to suggest third-party involvement or criminality, but specialist detectives are working hard to gather the full facts and circumstances of their deaths."

Ch Supt Adam Hays said the force would "leave no stone unturned" in its investigation.

He said he knew the deaths had profoundly affected the local community but urged people to respect the family's privacy while they "come to terms with this terrible tragedy".

The women's father said their deaths had "left an emptiness that words cannot heal."

He added: "There are days when the grief feels unbearable, yet I hold tightly to the memories we shared.

"Though you are no longer here beside us, your spirits live on in our hearts every day. Love like yours never dies."

One line of inquiry explored by police is that the the women may have gone into the sea from the beach and then got into difficulty.

It is understood that they were first spotted at Brighton Palace Pier before drifting towards Brighton Marina.

Sussex Police said it had reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV and made enquiries around the beach area to try to trace the women's last movements. It has also appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

The force said the women's next of kin were being supported by specialist officers "during this incredibly difficult time".

Sian Berry, the MP for Brighton Pavilion, told BBC Radio Sussex she was "really proud" of how the city had reacted.

"What I've seen since this tragedy first happened is the city just really pulling together and caring deeply about what happened to these women, while knowing nothing about their story."

Resident Posy Brown, herself one of four sisters, said the women's death "feels quite close to home".

"I am pretty shocked," she told the BBC. "I can't imagine that happening to me and my family."

Brighton & Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey said: "To learn today that these three beautiful women were sisters makes this troubling situation even more heartbreaking."

She said her heart went out to their family and friends, adding that Brighton was "grieving too".

She previously told BBC Radio Sussex it was "the most devastating news" the city had received "for a very long time".

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