A 16-year-old girl died today and a 30-year-old woman was seriously injured after they fell down cliffs, police said.

The accident happened at the Blue Dolphin holiday park, near Filey, North Yorkshire, in the early hours of this morning.

North Yorkshire Police said coastguard personnel used ropes to climb down the cliffs and found the girl's body alongside the injured woman.

It is understood they were part of a party of four who had gone for a walk along a cliff-top path.

A police spokesman said both the girl and the woman are from the North East of England but could not give any further details.

He said a helicopter from RAF Leconfield was brought in to help the police, paramedics and coastguard, as well as a lifeboat.

The woman was transferred to Scarborough General Hospital where she was operated on for serious lower limb injuries. The girl's body was recovered by lifeboat crew, police and coastguard staff.

The spokesman said a police investigation has begun on behalf of the coroner.

A spokesman for the Humber Coastguard said the cliffs are 260ft high.

He said: ''Coastguards assisted two females last night after receiving a call from ambulance control to report that two people had fallen from cliffs north of Filey.

''Humber Coastguard requested Scarborough and Filey Coastguard rescue teams, Filey Inshore Lifeboat and Filey all-weather lifeboat to go to the scene.

''A rescue helicopter was also requested to scramble. Police were also on scene.

''One of the females had sustained some injuries in the fall, but sadly the second female was a fatality.

''The helicopter took the injured female to Scarborough Hospital.''