Ben the dog sparked a huge rescue operation when he plunged down 535ft cliffs - and survived without a scratch.

His owners, Mary and Lou James, watched in horror as he disappeared over the edge on his first visit to the seaside.

But the seven-year-old Staffordshire-cross landed on a chalk ledge 40ft down at Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, with no injuries.

Mrs James said: "Thank Goodness he is all right. I can't believe he has not got more serious injuries. It's wonderful. His tail is even wagging.

"I suppose it is quite strange. He is a bit of a mad, lively dog who likes to run around."

Ben had run off from his owners as they strolled along downland during a day-trip to the coast from their home in Kenley, Surrey.

He did not see the sheer drop as he scampered about without a lead and plunged over the edge just east of the Beachy Head lighthouse at 1.30pm yesterday.

Mrs James said: "He didn't know the layout of the clifftop and obviously didn't realise there was such a sharp drop."

The fall sparked a half-hour rescue operation involving cliff rescuers, firefighters and coastguards as Ben sat tight wagging his tail on the ledge.

Mr and Mrs James, who were staying in Nutley, near Uckfield, took Ben in from an RSPCA sanctuary in Godstone, Surrey, six months ago.

Mrs James, 60, said: "Back home Ben likes to stretch his legs in the countryside but here he has no idea where he should and should not go and just went over the cliff edge.

"We were both calling after him after he ran off but he couldn't hear us. I'm so glad he ended up on the ledge and didn't move because one slight movement and he would have fallen down further."

Eventually Bexhill-based firefighter Graham Leggatt placed a harness on Ben and then was winched to the clifftop to the joy of his owners.

Mr James, 58, a self-employed electrician, said: "We're delighted he is OK. We can't thank the rescue team enough for all they did."