Police investigating the death of a woman in Newquay are keen to trace a man she may have been due to meet on the day she died.

The Coastguard and police were called to Porth Beach at around 3.20pm on Monday 29 September after reports of a woman being found unconscious in a cave.

Rita Dow, 83, from Newquay, is believed to have fallen from the cliffs near Whipsderry Beach.

She was taken to Treliske for treatment where sadly she later died.

Officers believe she may have been due to meet a man called Dave or David that day at the Mermaid Inn nearby.

A man with dark hair and a distinctive limp was seen outside the pub at around 12.10pm. He was wearing dark trousers, an open shirt and white t-shirt. He may have been waiting for Rita to turn up.

PC Paul Crumpton, based in Newquay, said: “We would like to speak to the man, who was seen outside the pub, as a witness. We have tried to trace him by speaking to residents in the area but have not been able to trace him so far.

“If you were due to meet Rita Dow at the pub on Monday 29 September please get in touch.”

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the Coroner. Rita Dow’s next of kin have been informed.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting EN/148208/14.