TWO women found at the bottom of cliffs died in a suspected double suicide.

Emergency services scrambled a full scale response after an unattended bag was found at the top of a sheer drop on the Sussex coast.

Coastguard and lifeboats were sent to the Rushey Hill area of Peacehaven yesterday morning.

The women, aged 39 and 49, were known to each other, Sussex Police said.

The Argus:

A spokesman said there are no suspicious circumstances and the investigation has been passed to the East Sussex coroner.

An inquest into the women's deaths will be delayed for several months as hearings have been suspended as part of the coronavirus lockdown.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “We were alerted to an unattended bag at the cliff top and a search assisted by HM Coastguard and RNLI crews, was conducted.

The Argus:

“Sadly the bodies of two women, aged 39 and 49, were discovered in the vicinity of one another.

“The women were known to each other and their deaths are not being treated as suspicious.

"The matter has been passed to the Coroner’s Officer and next of kin have been informed.”

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