THE angler killed when a cliff collapsed because of the icy weather has today been named by police.

Jeff Nixon, 49, was casting from the coast near Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in Northumberland when a section of land gave way on January 6.

Mr Nixon, from Ashington, fell about 50ft to the shore below and was buried under rocks and rubble.

Coastguard and fire crews made a three-hour bid to find him and bad weather prevented emergency services recovering his body for almost 24 hours.

It is thought extreme snowfalls, ice and high winds made the cliff top unstable.