A BODY was recovered on a beach by lifeboat volunteers this afternoon.

Sussex Police said they were called after the Beachy Head chaplain raised the alarm after a rucksack was discovered on the top of the cliff.

The Eastbourne RNLI crew recovered a body at the bottom of the cliffs and notified the coroner.

A statement from the RNLI said: “As usual handled by the volunteer crew with the utmost dignity and respect.”

Police are notifying the family and no more information is available at present.