A body of a man is being recovered from a car that was driven off Beachy Head.

The driver of the car, who is not from Sussex, was retrieved from the water but was sadly prnounced dead at the scene.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a post mortem will take place next week, date yet to be set.

Emergency services are at the scene of the 531ft drop, with the vehicle spotted falling at 11.15am on Thursday, May 3.

The Argus understands the body was being recovered at 6.15pm, with lifeboat crews and police still at the site, near Eastbourne.

A spokeswoman for the Marine Coastguard said: "About 11.15am today East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service requested HM Coastguard assistance at Beachy Head, after receiving reports that a car had gone over the cliff near the lighthouse.

"Birling Gap, Eastbourne, Newhaven, Hastings and Bexhill Coastguard Rescue Teams, the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd and Eastbourne RNLI Lifeboats have been sent to the scene, alongside East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Sussex Police and the South East Ambulance Service.

"This incident is ongoing and we have no further information at this stage."

A spokesman from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called at 11.15am after receiving reports that a car had gone off the cliff at Beachy Head.

"We dispatched our rope rescue team who are on top of the cliff, and our marine team at the bottom of the cliff. 

"We are working closely with the Coastguards and police."

A resident, who asked not to be named, said: "There were people standing near the cliff to see what was happening.

"I saw a lot of emergency services so I decided to go and have a look myself.

"I was shocked to hear a car had plunged down the cliff, I hope no one was in there otherwise it would have been tragic.

"Beachy Head does have a bad name because a lot of people take their own lives there. So I'm really hoping there was nobody hurt."