Yahoo News Dramatic moment cliff collapses onto the beach at Sidmouth
A series of dramatic cliff falls wiped away parts of the Devon coastline and left huge clouds of dust hanging over a seaside resort.
East Beach, in Sidmouth, was the scene of two large collapses and a number of smaller rock falls on Monday morning, with sections of cliff crashing down "every half an hour", according to witnesses.
Watch: Cliff Collapses Along Jurassic Coast in 2021
The brittle cliffs of the Jurassic Coast have been cracking under the recent heatwave, weakening the brittle surface and triggering landslides.
Experts have warned that as the hot weather continues, more rock faces could fall without much warning. Police have advised residents and visitors to avoid the area.
Rural East Devon Police said in a tweet:
Another large cliff fall this morning. Reminder to beach users not to walk on the beach East of #Sidmouth due to unstable cliffs which could fall at any time. #signsthereforareason #beachsafety pic.twitter.com/7xY9NKc75Y
— Rural East Devon Police (@EastDevonPolice) August 8, 2022
The area is notorious for cliff collapses, with houses along the edge losing large chunks of their gardens over the years.
A coastguard team was dispatched after the first cliff fall, finding no casualties or anyone at risk of injury.
