The Devil's Chimney has disappeared in another large cliff collapse on the Sussex Coast.

Hundreds of tons of chalk fell into the sea as the landmark, which juts out from underneath one of the highest points of the cliffs at Beachy Head, crumbled yesterday.

The Devil's Chimney, just east of Beachy Head lighthouse, has been part of the 500ft-high cliff face for more than 50 years. It fell into the sea after heavy rain.

It was called Devil's Chimney because of the high number of bodies found at its base. Many of those who jump to their deaths from Beachy Head are found beneath it.

A coastguard spokesman said today: "The Devil's Chimney is no more. There is now a sheer drop from the top of Beachy Head."

The Environment Agency will today make a further assessment of the cliff fall.

Eddie Buckland, Press officer for the Eastbourne Lifeboat, said: "Devil's Chimney is a section of the cliff that has survived erosion for 50 years. It has been gradually disappearing. People were expecting it to go"

In January 1999 Beachy Head suffered one of the biggest cliff falls ever known in Britain when thousands of tons of chalk fell, almost linking the Beachy Head lighthouse with the mainland.

The Belle Tout lighthouse on the top of Beachy Head had to be moved back from the cliff edge in 1999 because of increasing erosion.

In the past few months, there have been cliff falls at Brighton Marina, Peacehaven and Telscombe Cliffs.