Elderly man who drove mobility scooter off Beachy Head cliffs named as Victor Newton

An 81-year-old man who was seen driving his mobility scooter off the top of cliffs at a beauty spot as visitors looked on has been identified.

Sussex Police received a call from a member of the public at about 2.45pm yesterday, who said the man and his scooter had fallen over the edge of the cliff-top near the Beachy Head pub in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Victor Newton's body was retrieved by Royal National Lifeboat Institution crews.

A police spokesman said the death of Mr Newton, from Langney, Eastbourne, is not suspicious and that the East Sussex coroner has been informed.

During the first two weeks of July two bodies were recovered from the cliffs at Beachy Head, according to the Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team charity's website.

In June the chaplaincy team was involved in 63 searches and incidents, which resulted in 21 people being rescued.

A statement on its website said: "We were called to 38 searches via Sussex Police. We were also alerted to five searches by members of the public and two by staff of the Beachy Head Pub. During proactive patrols the team came across a further 18 incidents.

"Sadly during the month there were five bodies recovered from the cliffs. One of the deaths was witnessed by our team.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the deceased."

PA