POLICE, ambulance, the Southbourne Coastguard and the National Police Air Service searched Bournemouth's East Cliff late on Sunday after receiving reports that a person had jumped off the cliff at that location.

After the 11.25pm call, the coastguard searched Overcliff Drive and the Undercliff Drive between Bournemouth Pier and Boscombe Pier. Then, after information came through that incident may have occurred at Hengistbury Head, they conducted searches there.

"We then conducted a cliff top search at Hengistbury Head, and came across a person sleeping outside the NCI lookout," said a coastguard spokesman. "Police were able to eliminate this person from their enquiries. With no further information available, and multiple areas checked Dorset Police concluded that this was a hoax or malicious call."

The teams were stood down and returned to their stations.