A six-year-old girl suffered "just bumps and bruises" after she miraculously survived a 150ft fall from a cliff top, coastguards said.

Her terrified parents watched in horror as the youngster plunged off the cliff at Filey, in North Yorkshire, and landed on the beach below.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident yesterday afternoon after the distressed mother rang 999 for an ambulance and then hung up.

The girl's father scrambled frantically down the cliff to check on his daughter, who was unconscious.

Coastguards arrived soon after to find the girl suffering from head injuries at the bottom of the cliff next to the Blue Dolphin Caravan Park, where it is believed the family were staying.

The Coastguard called for a helicopter from RAF Leconfield and the Scarborough Coastguard Rescue Team also assisted.

Paramedics gently moved the girl on to a stretcher from the area, known as Chimney Hole, and she was flown quickly to Scarborough Hospital.

Coastguards said the girl was understood to have regained consciousness in hospital, where she is recovering with her relieved parents at her bedside.

Mark Clark, of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: ''This girl is a miracle child. She must be made of rubber to have survived a fall of this height.

"We don't know the circumstances of this accident as the parents were understandably still in shock but they must be awfully relieved.

"We understand that the girl suffered just bumps and bruises and she is recovering in hospital with her parents by her side."

A spokesman at Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust said the parents did not wish to comment.

He added that no details of the girl's condition could yet be released.

Humber Coastguard was alerted to the incident at just after 5.30pm yesterday by a 999 operator who said they had just taken a call from a distressed female reporting the fall.

The mother had asked for an ambulance and had then hung up.

An ambulance was sent and Filey Inshore Lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue Team were both alerted to the incident.

Mike Puplett, Watch Manager at Humber Coastguard, said that people needed to take extra care near to cliff edges.

He said: "This accident demonstrates the need for constant vigilance when near to cliff edges.

"While the views in this location are magnificent they are better viewed from a safe distance. Unfortunately, the family will remember their holiday at Filey for all the wrong reasons.

"The father's actions to go down the cliff were entirely understandable but we would caution against taking such risks with the potential for a second casualty.

"We wish this young girl a speedy recovery."