Cliffs crumble at East Beach in West Bay

A cliff has collapsed and a large amount of rubble fallen onto the sand at East Beach in West Bay.

On its facebook page, Bridport Harbour advised people to steer clear of danger when walking along the beach.

It said: "[Rock falls] can happen at anytime and without warning. Stay a safe distance away from the bottom of the cliffs."

The Coastguard was alerted to the large landslide by Dorset County Council (DCC) at 9.30am this morning.

However, a spokesman said that they were not required to attend the scene as DCC are putting accident prevention measure in place.

The spokesman added: "We’ve seen a number of cliff collapses around the coast in recent months.

"It’s very clear that cliffs are very unstable in places.

"We really can’t stress enough how important it is to keep back from the edge.

"There is no ‘safe’ place to be. Some of the cracks that have appeared have been several feet away from the edge. Don’t be tempted to go and investigate.

"Don’t risk going to the edge to get a picture – it could be the last one you ever take.

"Use the designated paths, observe and take notice of any warning signs. Please enjoy your coastal walk, but make sure you and yours come home again safely.

"As ever, our message is: keep safe, but if you see anyone in trouble or you get in trouble yourself, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."

“This rock fall appears to have happened at high tide in the early morning and is of a similar size to the last one at West Bay. This is not an unusual event on this part of the coast, which has seen a lot of movement in the last few years.

Sam Scriven, earth science manager for the Jurassic Coast World Heritage team, said: “Dorset County Council, West Dorset District Council, Bridport Town Council, the Jurassic Coast team, coastguard and others have been working together to monitor the cliff.

"Warning signs are in place in the area for the public’s safety.

“As ever, keep your wits about you, whether you are out walking, fossil hunting, having a picnic or taking selfies. It is easy to enjoy the Jurassic Coast without putting yourself or others at risk. 

“Always stay away from top and bottom of cliffs. Landslides and rock falls can, and do, happen anytime. Never ignore a warning sign – they are there for your safety.”

More to follow.

Picture: James Loveridge