South West huge cliff fall sparks beach warning
A large cliff fall at a beach in the South West has sparked a warning from the local council. Rocks fell from the side of a cliff at Jacob's Ladder Beach in Sidmouth in East Devon, resulting in a pile of rubble at the base of the cliff.
Rock falls are not uncommon in Devon, particularly East Devon where the rock is soft. The council advises visitors stay clear of the base of any cliffs in the area and be on the look out for fresh fall material or water running down the cliffs, which could indicate an area is loose, as DevonLive reports.
East Devon District Council has warned beach-goers to stay away from cliffs along the coastline, which can be unpredictable because of their soft nature. An alert sign, posted on Jacob's Ladder Beach says: "Stay away from cliffs. Danger of falling rocks. Beware unstable cliff".
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East Devon District Council posted a statement on its Facebook page: "Following a cliff fall at Jacob's Ladder Beach in Sidmouth, we'd like to remind visitors to keep their distance from cliffs along the East Devon coastline.
"Cliff falls are a natural and unpredictable occurrence along the East Devon coast. This is because the rock from which the cliffs are formed is soft, and therefore prone to rock falls, and landslides, which can happen at any time.
"If in doubt, don’t walk under or near the cliffs," the council continued. "The Coastguard advises that beach users stay at least the height of the cliff away e.g. if a cliff is 20 metres high, a distance of 20 metres should be kept."
If you see a cliff fall and suspect someone may be injured, call 999.