A Portland prison officer plunged to his death from a cliff top.

Staff at the Verne Prison have been rocked by news of the death of their colleague Benjamin Anderson.

Mr Anderson, who was 32, had only been working at the island jail for about 18 months, according to colleagues.

He lived in Wareham and it is understood the Verne was his first prison job.

Police said Mr Anderson’s body was found on a beach at the base of cliffs at Winspit Caves near Worth Matravers on the Purbeck coast on Thursday.

The death is not thought to be suspicious.

A member of the public raised the alarm after making the grim discovery.

Prison Officers’ Association branch secretary at the Verne Ian Prudames said staff were in shock at hearing the news.

He said: “I’d just come back from leave myself when I heard. It’s tragic. This was his first job at a prison and he’d not been with us long. Our thoughts are with his family.”

Verne Governor Denise Hodder said: “My thoughts and those of all of Benjamin Anderson’s colleagues are with his friends and family at this difficult time.

“Benjamin was a hardworking and good hearted member of staff who will be missed by all of us.”

The coastguard helicopter from Portland was scrambled after Mr Anderson’s body was discovered late on Thursday afternoon.

The St Alban’s Coastguard Rescue Team was also alerted to assist in the recovery.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “At 5pm on Thursday, police coastguard and ambulance personnel were called to Winspit Caves following a report that a body had been found at the base of cliffs.

“The body of a man was recovered from a beach below the cliffs with the assistance of the coastguard. Although formal identification has yet to take place the body is believed to be that of a 32-year-old man from Wareham.

“The incident is being investigated but the death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

“Her Majesty’s Coroner and the man’s next of kin have been notified.”

Formal identification is expected to take place after the weekend.

Landlord of the Square and Compass pub at Worth Matravers Kevin Hunt said he saw police cars in the village on Thursday and wondered what was going on.

He said Winspit was about half an hour’s walk from the pub.

The workings of the old Winspit Quarry formed the caves near where Mr Anderson’s body was found.

During the Second World War the site was used as a site for military defences, although the area is now accessible to the public.