A MAN died after falling from a 300ft cliff yesterday.

Police said the 39-year-old Polish man fell from cliffs near Beer Hill, in Seaton, East Devon, at about 2.45pm.

A coastguard helicopter was scrambled to look for the man, who has not been identified, but it was called off after he was found to have died from the fall.

A Portland Coastguard spokesman said the man landed in bushes at the base of the cliff.

She said: "We launched the helicopter who kept going until it was established the man had died from the fall.

"He fell over a 300ft cliff and landed in bushes fairly close to the base.

"Coastguard crew members were able to climb up to the man."

It is thought the man was travelling with a group of other Poles.

Police are not treating the incident as suspicious and described it as a "tragic accident".

Martin White, owner of the Durham House Hotel, on Fore Street, Beer, said it would be difficult to fall off the cliff as the path was fenced off.

He said: "There is a coastal path that runs all the way along that area. It is all fenced off and if you've got your wits about you I can't see how you would easily fall off it."

The man's next of kin in Poland have not yet been informed of his death.

The cliffs around Beer rise up to about 350ft in parts and it lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.