The father of a five-year-old boy who was found dead with his mother at Beachy Head has described the loss of “our brightest star”.

Police and coastguard discovered the bodies of 42-year-old Cheryl Tompsett and her five-year-old son Leo Tompsett, both from Maidstone in Kent, at the cliffs near Eastbourne, on Monday morning.

In a statement released through Sussex Police, Leo’s father paid tribute to him saying: “With more sadness and hurt than anyone can imagine, our precious Leo, who was our shining light, our brightest star, has had his life cut short.

“We all miss him an amount beyond what anyone else can imagine and would request that our privacy is respected at this very difficult time.”

Detective Inspector Simon Dunn said: “Our investigation continues in this tragic case, however, at this time, there is nothing to suggest that anyone else was involved in their deaths.

“Detectives are in the process of piecing together the last moments of their lives.”