A police officer has been commended for his bravery after he fell 20 feet over Beachy Head while trying to foil a suicide attempt.

PC Trevor Perks was left dangling over the cliff, gripping onto the other man, when they both slipped over the edge.

With rocks far below the notorious suicide spot, PC Perks was attached only to a safety harness

The harness had been roped around a patrol car, which a fellow officer used to haul the pair back up to the top of the cliff.

PC Perks and PC Lee Perks, who is no relation, were called to the spot near Eastbourne, East Sussex, when a man was reported near the edge.

'Act of courage'

The man had been dropped off near the cliff edge by a taxi driver.

PC Perks put on the safety harness before approaching the man standing at the cliff edge, to talk to him.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "They slipped over the edge and were dangling 20 feet down.

"With the help of other officers, both men were pulled up the cliff face."

Superintendent Simon Parr, divisional commander of East Downs area, said: "It was an act of courage and bravery from the officers."

Following the incident the man, who has not been named by police, was taken to Eastbourne General Hospital.