A CYCLIST has been left with 'minor cuts and bruises' after a 40ft drop off a cliff. 

Lymington and New Milton Police were called to help rescue a 68 year-old man who had fallen off a cliff at Taddiford Gap, Milford-on-Sea, at 2.30pm on March 7. 

The force were joined by colleagues from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, Southbourne and Lymington Coastguard teams, South Central Ambulance Services and the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).

A spokesperson for the Coastguard said: "HM Coastguard received a call from the police at around 2.40pm on 7 March saying a person had fallen off their bike and over the cliff at Milford-on-Sea.

"The person was winched to the top of the cliff by the coastguard helicopter where they were passed into the care of South Central Ambulance Service."

Both the Coastguard and HART worked to fully to stop him from moving before he was winched from the soft mud at the bottom of the cliff. 

The helicopter then landed inland before he was transferred to an ambulance and then taken to University Hospital Southampton for further treatment.

On Facebook, Lymington and New Milton Police said: "The 68-year-old, from New Milton, suffered minor cuts and bruises but was taken to hospital as precaution.

"The footpath at the top of the cliff was closed while we dealt with the incident and we’d to thank members of the community for their patience while not being able to access this area."

There has been no update on the condition of the man.