A boy of 12 was taken to hospital with serious head injuries today after he fell more than 40ft down a cliff.

Christian Perry, of St James Road, Hastings, had been playing with friends at the top cliffs near West Hill, Hastings, when he is thought to have slipped. He fell head-first on to rocks.

A member of the public dialled 999 and paramedics and the coastguard was informed.

The boy was taken to the Conquest Hospital, Hastings, with serious head injuries.

An ambulance service spokeswoman said she did not know whether his injuries were life-threatening.

A spokesman for Dover Coastguard said: "We were called at about 5.57pm and told a 12-year-old had fallen from West Hill, Hastings.

"A coastguard team and paramedics attended and also the fire brigade. He had fallen about 40ft head-first."

Leading Firefighter Mark Mitchell, of Hastings fire station, said: "The 12-year-old had been playing with friends at the top of the cliff and somehow fell 40 to 50ft.

"It is a more or less sheer drop, although it is staggered in places. He suffered quite bad head injuries and the paramedics and doctor there were keen to get him away quickly.

"He was conscious and on oxygen but in a lot of pain. He had fallen into a crevice and we were able to get to get to him and pass him hand over hand to the ambulance crew."

Dr David Janes of the Sussex and Surrey Immediate Medical Care Scheme (Simcas), who attended the scene said: "He fell on to rock and had head and facial injuries.

"They were very serious and the coastguard, police, ambulance and Fire Brigade were called.

"He was lodged between the rocks and the base of cliffs. It took a very co-ordinated team effort to extract him from the rocks."

A spokesman from the Conquest Hospital today described Christian's condition as stable.