A beloved UK beach has been forced to close after being deemed unsafe for visitors to venture onto.
Yesterday (5 January), Monmouth Beach in Lyme Regis, Dorset, experienced a landslip that has been described as ‘active and ongoing’.
Officials attended the scene and Lyme Regis Coastguard shared an update on Facebook.
‘We have attended an active and ongoing landslip situated off Monmouth Beach in Lyme Regis. Large boulders have been falling from the top of the cliff and have been rolling down onto the beach and into the water,’ it revealed.
As a result, the area of beach near the base of the landslip has been closed off and the public have been warned to stay ‘well clear’ of the area.
The post continued: ‘Lyme Regis Town Council have attended the site to assess the situation.
‘Consequently, the beach area immediately near the base of the slip has been closed to the public.’
The coastguard urged people to stay away and added: ‘We strongly advise all members of the public to stay well clear of this area.’
Yesterday, Monmouth beach, in Lyme Regis, Dorset, experienced a landslip that has been described as ‘active and ongoing’
Visitors were also warned not to climb in the area.
The post read: ‘Do not attempt to climb the slip or walk near the base of the affected cliffs.’
Dogs are also being urged to be kept on a leash and away from the base of the cliffs.
‘The cliffs along the Jurassic Coast are naturally unstable and can crumble without warning,’ the coastguard went on.
‘Please respect the closures and signage in place for your own and others safety. It is unlikely this fresh fall will contain fossils.
‘In an emergency at the coast, call 999 and ask for the COASTGUARD.’
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘HM Coastguard was informed at about 9.25am on 5 January of a landslip on Monmouth beach.
‘Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue Team was sent to check the scene. There were no reports of anyone in distress.’
Deputy town clerk Mark Green told the Daily Mail: ‘There have been a number of minor landslips affecting the cliffs at Monmouth Beach. The cliffs in this area are unstable and minor movement continues to take place.
‘There are signs in the area warning about the risk of cliff falls and additional measures have been implemented to alert beach users to the recent falls. Only a very small section of the beach at the foot of the cliffs is affected.
‘Although Monmouth Beach remains open for public use and enjoyment, we would urge the public to stay away from the base of the cliffs and not to search for fossils amongst the fallen material. Although the recent falls have been relatively minor, the cliffs are unstable and the falls are unpredictable.’
As a result, the area of beach near the base of the landslip has been closed off and the public have been warned to stay ‘well clear’ of the area (stock)
Just last week, on December 30, a sizeable section of the 150ft cliff at West Bay in Dorset collapsed without warning while members of the public walked close by.
Witnesses reported hearing loud cracks in the cliff face seconds before it gave way, giving them enough time to run for safety.
Around 500 tonnes of rock and boulders the size of small cars fell onto the popular beach, sending a huge dust cloud into the air.
When it cleared it revealed a 30ft pile of sandstone rock that cut off the beach.
The dramatic incident happened at 4pm on Tuesday while people were out enjoying a sunset stroll.