The mother of a ten-year-old boy who survived a 100ft cliff fall has spoken of her shock and relief.

Penny Black, 35, said her son James had been exploring on his own when he lost his footing on chalk cliffs near Beachy Head.

James landed on a mound of rocks at the base of the cliff just west of Holywell.

Fortunately his red Liverpool FC shirt helped two young men on the clifftop spot him amid the rubble and he was airlifted to Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Despite his fall, James escaped with cuts and bruises and was expected to be discharged last night.

Mrs Black, of Old Town, Eastbourne, said: "A guardian angel must have been watching over him. You never hear of anyone falling down the cliffs and staying alive.

"He was just exploring but I think it has taught him a lesson and frightened him quite a lot. He's your typical boy but I don't think he'll be doing anything quite like that again."

The drama unfolded as Mrs Black watched her five-year-old daughter, Katie, at a swimming lesson at St Bede's School, a short distance from the cliff edge.

Football fan James, a Year 5 pupil at Ocklynge Junior School in Victoria Drive, Eastbourne, agreed to stay in the playground while they were inside and not venture elsewhere.

But he decided to explore on the clifftop while his mother and sister were at the lesson.

Two dog walkers looked on as James, who is the goalkeeper for Eastbourne United's under-ten side, lost his footing and tumbled over the edge.

The pair raised the alarm, prompting a large scale response just after 5pm on Tuesday, involving police, ambulance, the fire service and coastguards.

Shortly afterwards, Mrs Black and Katie came looking for James but instead found emergency teams outside the school.

Mrs Black said: "My first thought when I saw these police cars was 'I hope this hasn't got anything to do with James'. I thought he might have been abducted. I didn't think he would have gone over the cliff.

"There was obviously something going on so I knocked on a police car window while the officer was on the phone.

"I asked him whether he had seen a young boy in a red T-shirt and black shorts.

"When he said they had found a boy at the bottom of the cliffs I thought, 'Oh my God'. The police kept me away and said he was in the best possible hands."

Within 40 minutes of the first 999 call, James was airlifted to hospital.

He remained there overnight and most of yesterday.

Mr Black said: "The fact James was wearing his bright red Liverpool top enabled the boys to spot him and undoubtedly helped save his life."

Mrs Black added: "He is fine now. He hasn't got any broken bones. He is one very, very lucky boy.

"I would like to say a big thank you to the two boys who found my son on the beach and also to all the emergency services who attended.

"They were on the scene quickly and were brilliant throughout the rescue. It's a miracle James survived and I'm so glad he's going to be okay."