POLICE have warned youngsters of the dangers of walking along cliffs close to a historic castle after a teenage girl was airlifted to hospital.

The 16-year-old, who was described as local by the police, was understood to be with friends near the ruins of Dunbar Castle when she fell 50ft onto the rocks below on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services were called at about 3pm with the inshore lifeboat taking a local doctor to the scene of the accident.

He was then able to start treating the teenager, who was airlifted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary suffering from suspected head, neck and spinal injuries.

A spokesman for the RNLI told the Courier: “Because where she fell was so inaccessible, the Coastguard asked us to attend.

“We were the first on the scene and one of our crew is a doctor, so he was able to start treating her as soon as we got there.

“We stayed with her and gave her oxygen – it was a really nasty accident.

“Then, we stood by and assisted with the Sea King helicopter [from RAF Boulmer in Northumberland] – there was an air ambulance there, but for some reason they decided she would be better off in the Sea King.” He stressed cliffs were “dangerous places and you have to take extreme care”.

The incident was also raised at the town’s Community and Police Partnership (CAPP) meeting on Monday night.

Police Constable Gavin Ross was hopeful the incident would enforce the message that the cliffs were not safe for climbing on.

He said: “She should not have been there. . . it is a dangerous place to go.” Jacquie Bell, vice-chairwoman of the town’s community council, was at the CAPP meeting in the town’s police station and although incidents like this were not regular she was keen to see them minimised.

She said: “The warning signs are up and if you disobey them then you are doing it at your own peril.

“Unfortunately, this poor girl has learnt that the hard way.” She felt additional fencing around the cliffs could lead to others potentially attempting to climb over the fence and then get to the cliffs as well.

Meanwhile, staff at the teenager’s school have also offered support to her classmates.

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council said: “I can confirm that the young person is a student at Dunbar Grammar School and I know that everyone there is wishing her a speedy recovery.

“Dunbar Grammar has a strong support network in place.

“Health and safety issues will be discussed in class and at assemblies.” Messages of support have been posted on social media after the teenager’s brother posted on Monday evening.

One message of support said: “Wishing her a full and speedy recovery” while another read: “Hope your sister recovers fully and as quickly as possible”.