A London man fell to his death at Birling Gap.

Police were called at 5pm yesterday to reports of a man threatening to harm himself in the Mid Sussex area.

By 7pm the 50-year-old had made his way to the cliff edge of Birling Gap near Eastbourne.

Ten minutes later he went over the edge.

A lifeboat from Newhaven was in the middle of a training exercise when it diverted through choppy seas to get to the scene.

It was joined by local Coastguard units and helicopters.

Paramedics were also called out by a police chaplain patrolling the cliffs at the time.

The man was declared dead at 8pm.

Police say his death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been informed.