A huge cliff fall at West Bay was ‘inevitable,’ say lookout volunteers.
A huge rockfall was discovered on East Beach on Monday morning after cliffs appeared ‘very unstable.’
A spokesperson for the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) said: "With an excessively wet autumn followed by the very sharp frosts, a large fall or two was inevitable, as seen in the past few days at West Bay.
"It comes as a stark reminder to be wary of the dangers of the cliffs whether you are below or indeed above. It is, therefore, appropriate to remember the key rules of enjoying walks along the coast.
"Stay back from cliff edges. Whilst the photographs suggest that the footpath above the rock fall is currently safe and well back from the edge, it might not tomorrow. If you have a dog with you, please, keep it on a lead."
Dorset Council revealed that there had in fact been ‘three huge cliff falls around the West Bay area that have blocked access along the beach.’
It advised to 'stay clear of the cliffs,' and 'if you must walk along the beach, remember, even a small stone falling from a great height can cause a lot of damage.'
In the event of an emergency, people are urged to 'dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.'
The NCI also suggest that people should 'plan their route and have a map, which will also make it easier to report a location if a problem is encountered.'
Furthermore, people should 'Let someone know where they are going and when they plan to be back, check the weather forecast especially for mist, fog and high winds, as well as the tide times and the expected height of the tide.'
READ MORE: Jurassic Coast: Tonnes of rock fall from West Bay cliff
READ MORE: Huge rockfall along Dorset coast as West Bay cliff gives way (December)
Local photographer Daryl Gill, of West Bay Photography, captured a photo of the aftermath of the rockfall, saying: “Another large cliff fall at West Bay. It’s looking very unstable, I'd be surprised if more didn't come down.”
Another local photographer, Paul Wenlock, captured an image of a person walking near to the rock fall on East Beach just hours after the incident.
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