THE body of a man was found at the base of a cliff following an emergency search operation yesterday morning.

Coastguard and lifeboat crews were all involved in the search for two missing men off Eastbourne, with the coastguard helicopter also called to help teams scour the coast.

An Eastbourne RNLI spokesman said: "Our volunteer crew was paged at 8.40am on Thursday March 4. They were requested to launch the all weather lifeboat and the inshore lifeboat to assist local coastguards and the coastguard rescue helicopter with a search for two persons reported missing.

"The inshore lifeboat was then launched again at 10.50am to another incident where it provided safety cover for the coastguard rescue helicopter during the recovery of a casualty."

Sussex Police say the two missing people were not linked in any way.

The body recovered from the base of the cliff is believed to be that of one of the men.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "At about 9.20am on Thursday, March 4, the body of a man was found at the base of cliffs in Eastbourne.

"There are no suspicious circumstances and the coroner’s office has been informed."

The second missing man was found safe in hospital yesterday morning.

The force spokeswoman said: "A man was reported missing to police at 8am. Officers carried out a number of searches and enquiries before the man was found safe at Eastbourne District General Hospital."