Tourists 'dicing with death' pictured under crumbling Dorset cliffs

The group, pictured on Tuesday afternoon (June 1), appear not to have a care in the world as they ignore safety warning signs to keep their distance at West Bay, Bridport.

At least three tents can be seen as the group of about six men, women and young children sit on folded chairs.

One of the group, a man in a white t-shirt and dark shorts, took things a step further by clambering into a cliff crack.

The group under the crumbling West Bay cliffs. Picture Credit: Graham Hunt Photography

The location was made famous for featuring prominently in the hit ITV crime drama Broadchurch.

But it is infamous for its fragile 120ft sandstone cliffs and landslips and rockfalls occur there regularly.

In December 2020, an estimated 600 tonnes of rock and boulders the size of cars fell from the cliffs there.

In 2012, tragic tourist Charlotte Blackman, 22, was killed in a rockfall along the same stretch of the Jurassic Coast.

Most recently, a woman was rushed to hospital when she was hit by falling debris while she was walking along East Beach at West Bay on Monday afternoon.

'They are dicing with death'

View along the beach to where camping holidaymakers have set up tents under the crumbling cliff next to a rockfall at the seaside resort of West Bay. 1st June 2021. Picture Credit: Graham Hunt Photography

Local photographer Graham Hunt said he couldn't believe it when he saw the tent in such a precarious position.

He said: "It seems to be that when people come on holiday they leave their common sense at home.

"There were at least three tents there with bedding so they clearly want to stay overnight.

"There are warning signs to stay clear of the cliffs yet one man climbed into a cave in the cliff face.

"They are right next to massive boulders which fell over the winter so it is an active rockfall area.

"They are dicing with death."

'We really can't stress enough how important it is to be aware of your surroundings and think safety first' - Coastguard's warning

View along the beach to where camping holidaymakers have set up tents under the crumbling cliff next to a rockfall at the seaside resort of West Bay. 1st June 2021. Picture Credit: Graham Hunt Photography

The photos have prompted a coastguard safety warning.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "The UK's coastline is continually eroding, with pieces falling from cliffs that can be just a few small rocks or as large as a car.

"It's impossible to predict when the next piece might fall or how big it will be.

"When standing or walking at the bottom of a cliff, we would advise people that they shouldn't stand less than the height of the cliff away.

"That means that if the cliff is 25 metres high, don't go closer than 25 metres towards it.

"We really can't stress enough how important it is to be aware of your surroundings and think safety first.

"As always, remember to dial 999 and ask for the coastguard if you see anyone in difficulty or get into trouble yourself at the coast."