FOSSIL hunters in west Dorset are being warned about the "serious risk" of being cut off by the tide after a large landslip exposed ancient material on the Jurassic Coast.
The landslip took place on East Beach at Charmouth before Christmas, with fossil hunters flocking to the coast this week to grab hundreds of ammonite fossils that have been exposed.
But the Jurassic Coast Team is warning people not to climb over the landslip - putting people in danger of getting stuck in mud or being cut off by the tide.
Have a great time at Charmouth beach but please keep clear of the base and tops of cliffs, and stay off landslides, you could get stuck!
— Jurassic Coast WHS (@jurassic_coast) December 29, 2015
Tom and Evie Ward search for fossils
Sam Rose, Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team leader, said: "It is a fairly typical landslip for Charmouth but it is big enough that it might trap people by the tide.
"Walking over it would be very unsafe. The majority of it will be mud and there is a serious risk of people actually getting stuck in it or being cut off by the tide - so it is certainly not advisable to climb on it.
"If people are going to hunt for fossils, they should stay around the edges. It is actually a lot easier and safer to look for fossils on the beach where the sea has done a lot of the work for you by breaking it all up.
"We usually have a fossil warden on the beach, but we haven't planned for one this year because of the weather we have had."
Mr Rose also advised fossil hunters to listen to advice from experts who are making the most of the Charmouth landslide.
Hunter Swanson with his fossil find
The land is owned by the National Trust - and has cut off access to the beach, except at the lowest point of the tide.
National Trust rangers have issued warning signs and are also urging people not to put themselves in danger.
Rob Rhodes, National Trust countryside manager in Dorset said: "There is a real risk that people who go past the landslip onto the beach will be cut off when the tide turns.
"We would urge people to take the time to read warning signs in car parks and footpaths and follow their instructions so they can enjoy coming out to the coast safely."
Mr Rhodes has also warned people to stay away from unstable cliffs when visiting the area over the festive break.
Hundreds of people took part in the Charmouth Christmas Day swim.
Mr Rhodes added: "If anybody is visiting the Dorset coast, this landslip is yet another warning that the coast and cliffs are very unstable and liable to landslips and falls at anytime without warning.
"People should always stay well back from the cliff edges, whether above or below them."
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