Seatown landslip: Stay away warning

It comes after a huge landslip between Seatown and Eype Beach – said to be one of the biggest cliff collapses in the area in decades.

It happened overnight on Monday, completely blocking the beach. Thousands of tonnes of rock and debris came crashing down, along with trees some of which fell into the sea and could now pose a hazard.

Dorset Council has warned that further falls are expected - and urged residents to stay clear of the area.

The cliff fall is believed to have occured between Monday night and Tuesday morning Picture: James Loveridge Photography

A spokesman said: "Further movement is expected with fresh cracks, affecting the fence line but not the coast path.

"We will monitor over the next few weeks to ensure that any further movement does not affect access.

"Now the ground is drying out, there is the possibility of more slips and falls and they can happen very quickly. For your safety keep clear of tops and bases of cliffs when out and about."

West Bay Coastguard was informed of the slip on Tuesday morning and has encouraged people not to visit the affected area.

A spokesman said: "We were called out to the scene on Tuesday morning. No persons were reported as being involved but the landslip has dumped trees and debris into the water.

"There has been a lot of trees floating around the bays - which from a distance can look like capsized boats so we've been receiving a lot of calls.

Geomorphologist Professor Denys Brunsden explained that the cliff fall was caused by a number of factors, including storms and water build up on the clay Picture: James Loveridge Photography

"Right now we're experiencing a lot of cold nights with warmer daytimes and it is very dry - because of this, cracks are forming and cliff falls are occurring.

They added: "Diversions are in place and people are being encouraged not to go to that side of the beach."

Professor Denys Brunsden, a geomorphologist specialising in landslides and coastal erosion who lives in the area, believes the landslip was a result of a number of factors.

Prof Brunsden, who was instrumental in the push to get Dorset's Jurassic Coast recognised on the world stage, said: "Over the last two years there has been a heavy attack on the cliff from the sea. The base has been pushed back cutting off the support it provides to the upper part of the cliff.

Residents are being urged to stay way from the area as more cracks have formed and further falls are expected Picture: James Loveridge Photography

"We have also seen a lot of water this winter at about mid-height which has seen water build up on the less permeable clay underneath the sand stones, which eventually erodes the cliff and brings it down.

"In addition, we've had a lot of storms over the past year which have undermined the cliff, so there's a lot of factors in play. This isn't a sudden event, this is the type of landslide which occurs when the cliff has had a long time to get ready for it."

He added: "At the moment the cliff is still vulnerable with some very substantial cracks – we are likely to see another big piece to come to on the Seatown side.

"I would strongly urge people to stay away from the edge of the cliff and to keep clear of where the rocks have come down on the beach.

"People need to use their common sense and be aware that there are very big cracks in the cliff and almost certainly more to come."

One resident said the landslip was the biggest he'd seen in 60 years Picture: James Loveridge Photography

James Loveridge was able to capture images from the scene using a drone.

He said: "It was very odd to get down to the beach and see trees in the sea. In fact some people said they saw trees floating past West Bay and along the coastline.

"Please be careful if you go and have a look, there were many very stupidly placed people sat on the beach and peering over the edge from the cliff top."

Nicola Prakash, who came across the landslip on her morning walk, also snapped some photographs at the scene.

She said: "The entire beach is blocked, it's very lucky it happened overnight rather than during the day.

"It’s a huge landslip, certainly the biggest one I’ve seen in my 40 years in Bridport. I was chatting to some of the people who live by the beach and one man who’s been here for 60 years said it’s the biggest one he’s ever seen."