Police today recovered the body of a fisherman killed when a cliff collapsed because of the severe weather.

The angler, who has yet to be formally identified, was casting from the coast near Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, when the section of cliff he was standing on gave way at about 5.40pm yesterday.

Witnesses were left in shock when hundreds of tonnes of sandstone half-way between the beach at Newbiggin and Sandy Bay Holiday Park in North Seaton slipped into the sea.

With the high winter tide just metres from the rescue scene, more than 50 members of local coastguard and fire crews made a desperate three-hour bid to find the man.

But they had to leave the body as safety fears hampered the rescue mission.

A spokesman for Amble RNLI said: ''Given the sea and visibility conditions at the rescue site, Newbiggin Lifeboat made the correct decision in requesting back-up in terms of additional lighting, crew, and search facilities that we were able to provide to assist in a potentially difficult rescue.

''Our volunteer crew members train all year round whatever the weather for incidents such as this and once on scene it quickly became apparent how that training pays off.''

Mike Bradley, a spokesman for Newbiggin Coastguard Rescue Team, was at the scene and said: ''The cliff is already perilous and unstable but the cold weather and frost in the rock face has weakened it further. This is a tragedy.''

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: ''The body of a man who fell from the sea cliffs has now been recovered and will be taken to Wansbeck Hospital.

''The man will be formally identified in due course.''