Beachgoers were stunned to see a couple engaging in a very public sex act.

The pair were caught on camera on the beach near Hove Lawns, which was busy with families enjoying the sun at the time.

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The woman is lying naked and holding what appears to be a can of lager - possibly Stella Artois.

Her partner, wearing only shorts, appears to be performing oral sex on her.

The incident occurred at around 3pm on Thursday.

A couple engage in a very public sex act on Hove beach

One onlooker said: “I was a little taken aback and quite shocked.

“I had to do a double-take and looked around to see if anyone was seeing what I was seeing.

“They went at it for a few minutes then stopped and cuddled for a bit then kept going.

“The woman was looking around to make sure nobody was watching.

“If it was on the nudist beach, I wouldn’t have batted an eyelid.

“But on a public beach where there are young children or teenagers it’s not acceptable.

“I’ve not seen anything like it before in public on a weekday afternoon."

Conservative city councillor Dawn Barnett, was outraged.

She said: "I think it’s bloody disgusting.

"I don’t care what goes on behind bedroom doors, but on the seafront in view of families and kids, what is the matter with these human beings?

"I think they ought to be caught and fined to make them think twice.

"For them to do that at the height of the summer where we’ve got kids, parents and old people on the beach, who wants to sit and watch that?

"I’m disgusted with it, where’s the decency? Their principles are out the window.

"Ever since they made this a protest city, people think they’ve got the right to do what they like.

"We’ve had smut, smut and more smut.

"They’ve made this area disgusting. It’s gone back to the smutty Thirties."