A police officer has told of the terrifying moment he was almost pulled over a 400ft cliff as he tried to save a suicidal man.

At one point PC Trevor Perks, 35, struggled with the man in pitch darkness just inches from a drop to certain death off Beachy Head.

Mr Perks was called out to the famous cliff, near Eastbourne, after being alerted by a taxi driver worried about the man he had just dropped off.

He arrived just after 5am yesterday to find the distressed 32-year-old from Eastbourne downing spirits and prescribed pills while standing on a rock jutting out 15ft from the cliff face.

Mr Perks, based at Hammonds Drive, Eastbourne, said: "I got to within 6ft of him but then he suddenly said, 'Don't come any nearer or I'll go over'.

"I told him it wasn't worth it and that the burden of guilt would be on my colleagues and I if he went over."

Mr Perks came back from the edge and attached himself to a safety harness, anchored to a police vehicle.

He then made tentative steps back towards the man, trying to persuade him to grab his hand in an effort to bring him to safety.

Mr Perks said: "I tried to engage him in conversation but he said, 'That's it, I'm off' as calmly as you like, as if he was going to the shops.

"He put his hand out to shake mine, as if to say thanks but I'm going over. But then as I put my hand out I gave him an almighty yank as I saw it as the last chance to save him."

A struggle ensued and Mr Perks' colleague PC Lee Perks (who is no relation) joined in.

The suicidal man calmed down momentarily, then started thrashing around again, pushing his feet against the rock.

Mr Perks said: "I was holding on to him but I felt my grip loosening. His fleece slipped off him and he went over. It was pitch black and I thought, 'That's it, he has gone'.

"But luckily he had just fallen down into a funnel in the cliff, wedged in there with his legs hanging over the edge.

"I remember Lee looking down saying, 'Don't do it. This will have to stay with us for the rest of our lives', trying to put the burden of guilt on him.

"I again went down to him. God knows what I said to him. I suppose auto-pilot takes over but after about 20 minutes he came back up with us."

The suicidal man was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Mr Perks said: "As far I'm concerned I'm no hero. I was able to concentrate on the job because I had the utmost faith in my colleagues.

"They removed any worry from my mind. I'm just glad it all turned out as it did. But I certainly feel lucky to be alive."

As Mr Perks was being touted for a police commendation, Inspector Keith Stoneman said: "He's extremely brave. To do what he did takes a hell of lot of guts and Trevor's got it."