Police have revealed that a brother and sister were among three people to die in apparent cliff falls in Dover on New Year's Day.

The siblings were aged in their 60s and officers want to speak to anyone who saw them wearing in dark-coloured, wet weather clothing at the top cliffs on Sunday or the previous day.

Although formal identification has not yet taken place, they are thought to come from the Cheshire area.

Their bodies were discovered after police and coastguards had been alerted to concerns for a man shortly before 2.30pm whose body was subsequently found at bottom of Langdon Cliffs.

But officers do not believe the deaths of the siblings and the man are linked and say they are not being treated as suspicious.

The man in his 40s is thought to come from the Greater Manchester area.

The incidents led to a major operation by the emergency services, including police, paramedics, Dover RNLI and the coastguard.

Langdon Battery and Deal Coastguard Rescue Teams, the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd and the Dover RNLI Lifeboat were sent to the area.

Dover RNLI press officer Ed Baker confirmed that the UK Coastguard took the main lead, and the helicopter winched the man on his own from a ledge on the cliff in Langdon Bay and taken to coastguard station.

The other man and woman were located about half a mile away by the coast search and rescue teams on the shore "situated within the port within one of the harbour arms."

Paramedics were also at the scene. The RNLI stood down from the incident just before 4pm.

Police spokesman Amanda Wills said today: "Inquiries are ongoing to confirm the identities of the three people found at the bottom of Langdon Cliffs, Dover, on Sunday.

"Police was called to the location at 2.27pm and the body of a man was subsequently discovered at the bottom of the cliffs by the coastguard.

"During the search the coastguard also discovered the bodies of a second man and a woman.

"Although formal identifications are yet to take place, the first man is believed to be a man in his 40s from the Greater Manchester area. His next of kin has been informed. His death is not being treated as suspicious.

"The second man and woman are believed to be a brother and sister, in their 60s from the Cheshire area. Officers do not believe the deaths of the second man and woman are connected to the death of the first man.

"Their deaths are not being treated as suspicious at this time and inquiries are ongoing to identify next of kin and reports are being compiled for the coroner.

"Officers are appealing for anyone who saw a man and woman in their 60s in dark-coloured wet weather clothing at the top of the cliffs in the period between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day to contact Kent Police on 101 quoting reference number 01-0980."

"Officers attended and the body of a man was subsequently discovered at the bottom of the cliffs by the coastguard.

"During the search the coastguard also discovered the bodies of a second man and a woman.

"Officers do not believe their deaths are linked to that of the first man."

Following the tragedy, Dover MP Charlie Elphicke reacted with shock at the news.

He tweeted: "Shocked by bodies found near cliffs in Dover. Thoughts with the families & loved ones of those who lost their lives."