A TEENAGE girl died and a woman suffered serious injuries in a cliff fall in North Yorkshire.

Emergency services were called out to a spot near the Blue Dolphin Holiday Caravan Park, Filey, early today amid reports that two people had fallen.

The lifeboat at Filey and an RAF air-rescue helicopter were launched.

Coastguards used ropes to get to the bottom of the cliff, where they found the body of a 15-year-old girl.

A woman in her 30s was also found suffering from serious leg injuries.

The woman and the girl were both from the North East.

The woman was taken to Scarborough General Hospital by helicopter, and underwent surgery there.

The body of the girl was recovered by the coastguard and the next of kin informed. The girl has not yet been formally identified.

Tony Lidgate, from North Yorkshire Police, said: "It would appear that the two people who have fallen from the cliff were part of a group of four who went for a walk in the early hours along the coastal path."

North Yorkshire Police are now investigating the incident on behalf of the coroner.

Mr Lidgate said: "North Yorkshire Police would like to thank the other emergency services involved for their co-operation and spirit of working together which was displayed."

A spokesman for the Humber Coastguard said the cliffs were 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."

Signs on the cliff-top path warn of the sheer cliff face and steep drops.

Management at the Blue Dolphin Caravan Park declined to comment today.

Updated: 10:57 Wednesday, October 01, 2003