Two friends whose bodies were found close together at the foot of Beachy Head may have died in a suicide pact, police said today.

Kenneth Hall, 43, and Christopher Jost, 27, travelled together from Portsmouth to the notorious suicide spot near Eastbourne.

Their bodies were found about 50 yards apart, 400 yards east of the Belle Tout lighthouse, around 3.30pm on Friday.

The discoveries were made as hundreds of people flocked to Beachy Head on the first day of the Easter weekend.

Police, ambulance, coastguard and RNLI crews were alerted following the discovery of the first body by a walker just before 3.30pm.

The inshore lifeboat brought both bodies to the RNLI depot at Royal Parade, Eastbourne, just before 5.30pm.

Both were taken to the Eastbourne District General Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

A police spokesman said today: "The two men knew each other and had travelled together to Beachy Head from Portsmouth. Inquiries are still continuing."

The coroner's office has been informed and inquests are due to be opened later this week.