This picture shows the moment a suicidal woman was talked out of jumping from 500ft cliffs.

The woman called police on a mobile phone as she waited perilously close to the edge at notorious suicide spot Beachy Head, near Eastbourne.

Officers who arrived soon after 5pm on Monday found her dangling her legs over the precipice.

A member of the team walked slowly down towards her and she changed her mind, standing up and climbing carefully up the cliff-face.

The officer reached out and offered her a hand, leading her away from the edge.

She allowed herself to be led away from the clifftop and was offered counselling by specially-trained suicide therapists.

The dramatic scene was captured on camera by a passing photographer who said: "It was a very tense situation. They were talking to her for about half an hour before she decided to walk back."

A police spokesman said: "Officers carried out some delicate negotiations and the outcome was positive."