A man died after falling 200ft from a cliff.

Rescuers were called to the cliffs at Beachy Head at about 10am this morning after a walker reported seeing an elderly man fall from the cliff top.

He landed on a ledge 200ft below.

Coastguard crews were called and winched the man back to the top of the cliff, but were unable to save his life.

A spokesman for Dover Coastguard said: “We were told by a person standing on the cliff that they had seen an elderly gentleman go over.

“We don’t know if he fell or if it was intentional.

“Two cliff teams winched him up to the top n a stretcher.

“He must have fallen at least 200ft.”

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “There was a man who fell from the cliffs at Beachy Head and he is deceased.

“We think we have been able to identify him and are in the process of trying to notify his next of kin.”

Eastbourne RNLI lifeboat was also called out, but were not needed.