THE body of a woman was recovered from the foot of cliffs near Lynmouth this morning in a joint operation involving RNLI lifeboat crews from Minehead and Ilfracombe.

The boats were launched as gales lashed the Bristol Channel after the woman was reported falling from Castle Rock, the highest point among the spectacular formations in the Valley of the Rocks.

Crew members from both Minehead’s Atlantic 85 and Ilfracombe’s Shannon class boats went ashore after the woman’s body was spotted at the base of the 250-foot drop.

She was recovered and placed on board the Shannon for transportation back to Ilfracombe.

The incident is now being investigated by Devon and Cornwall police.