A SEARCH was carried out along the East Kent coast today after a blood-soaked cap and mobile phone were found on the cliff top between Dover and Folkestone.

A person walking a dog made the discovery at Capel. The items were 50 yards from the cliff edge.

Police contacted Dover Coastguard seeking assistance with the search. They were not sure whether they were looking for someone who has been injured, or whether it is someone who has gone missing under suspicious circumstances.

Coastguard Rescue Teams from Folkestone, Langdon and Deal have searched the shore line and the Coastguard Rescue helicopter from Lee on Solent and the Dover lifeboat have searched the inshore waters.

Dover Coastguard Watch Manager Rob Gradon said: "We don't have any information on the time that someone could have gone into the water, which makes it challenging to calculate a valid search plan for the sea area adjacent to the cliffs.

"However, a thorough search of both the shore and the sea has been undertaken in good visibility but with nothing further found."

Kent Police said the four-hour search was stood down at about 2.30pm after nothing was found.