A WOMAN had to be rescued from the edge of the same cliff twice in two days amid fears she would harm herself.

Rescuers including police negotiators who successfully persuaded a woman away from the top of East Cliff at West Bay on Monday returned to the same spot the following afternoon to help the same person.

Negotiations went on for almost three hours in the first incident as reported in the Echo, and in the second incident on Tuesday emergency services spent an hour and a half trying to get her to safety. In the end, a rope was secured around the woman and she was brought away from the edge.

She was checked over and taken to a place of safety.

Police, paramedics and coastguards were involved in the rescues.

Inspector Mike Darby of Bridport Police said: "The lady returned to East Cliff on Tuesday and again police officers and negotiators attended. The ambulance service and the coastguard also attended.

"She was quite close to the edge of the cliff.

"We got a rope to her and after one and a half hours she was then seen by paramedics and conveyed to St Ann's Hospital in Poole. She was examined by medical experts and assistance was offered."

West Bay coastguards were alerted after receiving reports that there was a woman on the edge of the cliff.

A coastguard spokesman said: "Reports from the police were that this was the same despondent woman from the previous day's tasking.

"Seven rescue officers from West Bay and six officers from Lyme Regis made their way to meet the police near the edge of the cliff.

"The woman was in exactly the same place as per the previous day's tasking and the coastguard officers quickly set up the cliff rescue equipment.

"We were informed by the police negotiator that the situation was deteriorating and the woman appeared to be slipping from her position close to the cliff edge, but had now agreed to receive assistance.

"The casualty was secured into a rescue harness and recovered back from the edge of the cliff and was then taken into the care of Dorset Police."

In the incident on Monday, which emergency services say involved the same woman, police officers spent nearly three hours negotiating with her on the clifftops amid concerns for her welfare.

Speaking about Monday's incident, Inspector Darby said: "We spoke to her at length with negotiators to ensure her safety until 3.30pm, when officers escorted her to Bridport police station."

A bystander who witnessed the second incident said the rescue services did an excellent job.

He said: "The woman was right on the edge and it was a very precarious situation which thankfully ended well."