Two dogs survived after falling off 300ft cliffs at a popular beauty spot.

Stephie the fox terrier and Annie the retriever were chasing rabbits near the cliffs when they plunged over Seaford Head.

Annie became caught on a ledge 70ft down but Stephie toppled more than 300ft to the bottom.

The dogs' owners, who live in Seaford, were considering scaling the cliff face to rescue their pets after hearing them barking but deputy Coastguard station manager Trevor Cutler persuaded them not to.

The dogs were saved by youngest rescue team member, Nick Stanyard, who hauled them up the cliffs in bags with holes for their legs.

Mr Cutler said: "We normally have to wait for a low tide before we get the dogs because they usually die from the fall but when I heard them barking I called out the rest of the team straight away.

"The first dog was big but Nick managed to get by the side of it, pick it up and get the dog's confidence.

"I asked if he would mind going to the bottom and he said he wouldn't. He did very well."

Stephie was taken to a nearby vet with a suspected broken pelvis. Annie was unhurt.

Yesterday's rescue operation took about two hours and involved voluntary Coastguard members from Peacehaven, Newhaven and the surrounding areas.

Dave Riggs, station manager at Newhaven, asked dog owners to keep pets on a lead or away from the edge of cliffs when out walking.