A woman found dead at the foot of a cliff with her five year old son was a specialist bereavement counsellor.

The bodies of Cheryl Tompsett, 42, and son Leo, were discovered by police and coastguards at Beachy Head in Eastbourne, Sussex, at around 7am on Monday.

Leo's father said in a statement: "With more sadness and hurt than anyone can imagine, our precious Leo who was our shining light, our brightest star has had his life cut short.

"We all miss him an amount beyond what anyone else can imagine and would request that our privacy is respected at this very difficult time."

Mrs Tompsett worked as an emotional wellbeing specialist for Ashford-based charity CXK where she had been for 10 months before her death.

CEO Pauline Smith said: "We are shocked and saddened by the news and we would like to send the family our sympathies."

Sussex Police's detective inspector Simon Dunn said: "Our investigation continues in this tragic case, however, at this time, there is nothing to suggest that anyone else was involved in their deaths.

"Detectives are in the process of piecing together the last moments of their lives.”

Anyone who has information which may help is asked to make contact online quoting serial 1294 of 17/06.