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People have been pictured standing too close to the edge of unstable cliffs. Photos taken this afternoon, April 11, at Birling Gap, near Eastbourne, show visitors stood close to the cliff edge. The chalk is prone to collapse and tourists are routinely warned to stand a safe distance away.
In March, a large crack was spotted near the Belle Tout lighthouse at Beachy Head. Images show an area of the cliffside which has broken away near the pathway to the lighthouse. In October last year, Grazyna Hammond captured the moment a cliff collapsed on a beach near Birling Gap.
A notice on the National Trust website reads: "The Seven Sisters chalk cliffs are constantly changing. People stood close to the cliff edge (Image: Sussex News and Pictures) "This creates the iconic coastline that you see today. "Cliff falls and landslides are therefore part of this landscape and can happen at any time and without warning.
READ MORE: Study reveals 100-fold increase in chemical pollution in harbours "Our white cliffs are beautiful but also very fragile. "They may appear safe to stand on, but chalk is a soft rock that can be become unstable through heavy rain, frost, sun or undercut by wind and wave action. " Visitors are advised to stay at least five metres back from the cliff edge at all times.
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