Three bodies were recovered from a well-known suicide spot prompting a major emergency services operation.

Police, coastguards and lifeboat crews arrived at Beachy Head, East Sussex, yesterday, where a first body was found.

However it is understood that when emergency crews arrived two separate bodies were discovered in the same area on the beach below cliffs.

Three bodies were recovered from a well-known suicide spot yesterday, prompting a major emergency services operation

Emergency services were called to Beachy Head at about 3.30pm yesterday (stock picture)

None of the incidents are thought to be related and police believe the three individuals may not have died on the same day.

The first body was found when police when responded to an incident that took place yesterday afternoon.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said the force had been in the area all day and they were called to the area at 3.30pm.

Last night local media reported a search was ongoing for a fourth body. However Sussex Police have denied that this is the case.

Police, coastguards and a helicopter crew arrive at Beachy Head, East Sussex, yesterday

The first body was found when police when responded to an incident that took place yesterday

A police spokesman said: 'Police are investigating after three bodies were found at the foot of cliffs at Beachy Head, Eastbourne, on Wednesday afternoon.

'None of the deaths is linked and there would appear to be no suspicious circumstances.

'Police and coastguards were first alerted at 3.32pm and with assistance from the Eastbourne RNLI inshore lifeboat recovered the body of a 58-year-old man from London.

'Shortly after 5pm, while this was in progress, a second, badly decomposed body, believed to be that of a woman, was found nearby.

'Then some 40 minutes later a third body, believed to be that of another man from London, was discovered some distance away.

'Enquiries into each incident are continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police online or phone 101, quoting serial 975 of 13/06.'

The cliffs are 530ft (162m) at their highest point.

More than 350,000 people visit the cliffs at Birling Gap and Seven Sisters each year.