An ‘intoxicated’ woman had to be rescued after falling 30 feet down a steep embankment onto a cliff edge above the sea in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Rescue services were called to Stratton Place in Falmouth at around 3.30am this morning after reports that the woman had fallen over a wall above the cliff.

A major rescue operation was launched with coastguard rescue teams, police and South Western Ambulance taking part.

Rescue crews used specialist lines to make the woman secure before lifting her free so she could be treated by paramedics waiting above.

A spokesperson from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said: "An appliance from Falmouth, the line rescue vehicle from Tolvaddon and an officer were mobilised to an intoxicated person who had fallen over a wall on a cliff edge at 3:30am this morning.

"On arrival, the first appliance confirmed that a female was approximately 30ft down an embankment above the sea.

"Firefighters used SHACS (safety at height and confined spaces) lines to stabilise the casualty and prevent her falling further until the arrival of the specialist line rescue unit.

"On arrival, the line rescue unit set up and lowered firefighters and a paramedic down to the female to assess any injuries and perform casualty care.

"The crew successfully retrieved the female, who was left in the care of ambulance".