A terminally ill man drove his car off a cliff at a beauty spot.

Terry Windsor was found at the bottom of a 150ft drop after ending a life blighted by lung cancer.

The 65-year-old, who was dependent on oxygen, took two cylinders of the gas to enable him to complete his final journey.

A police community support officer found Mr Windsor's car about 500m east of the Bastion Steps, below Steyning Avenue in Peacehaven.

Mr Windsor's family, who live in East Grinstead, reported him missing after realising his Renault Laguna was not at his Peacehaven caravan.

PCSO Chris Marchant checked along the cliffs and made the gruesome find within 25 minutes of the report being made.

Sergeant Robin Fuller, of Sussex Police, told The Argus: "He was having a look in that area in case and he looked down and saw the vehicle."

A man matching Mr Windsor's description was found in the driver's seat of the car and the body was later formally identified.

A helicopter was used to take the body to the top of the cliffs.

Sgt Fuller said police were not treating the death as suspicious.

Councillor Ian Buchanan, the Mayor of Peacehaven, told The Argus he could remember two similar incidents in which elderly or terminally ill men had driven their cars over the cliffs in the area.

He said: "Everyone's hearts go out to the poor man's family.

"It is a tragedy. What a terrible way to go. You have got to be at the end of your tether to say you're not going to wait for the end, you're going to end it now.

"He is at peace but those he has left behind will be traumatised and those are the people I am thinking of now."

Mr Windsor's car was discovered at about 5.45pm last Tuesday but police have only just released details of the incident.

Staff at Rushey Hill Caravan Park in Peacehaven said Mr Windsor was well known at the site but declined to comment further.

On Saturday, a 46-year-old woman from Essex killed herself further along the coast at Beachy Head.

Julie White, 46, from Shrewburyness plunged from the clifftop at 3.15pm.

Sussex Police and the coastguard worked together to recover Mrs White's body. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective Sergeant Ian Williams, who dealt with the case for Sussex Police, said: "She and her husband had been the Brighton for the day and decided to go on the scenic coast road home.

"They happened to stop off at Beachy Head. We do not know how many people were up there at the time.

"Her death is not being treated as suspicious and the matter is in the hands of the coroner."

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 0845 6070999.