Jurassic coast in massive cliff fall as lifeboat and coastguards issue warning

A major cliff fall on the Jurassic coast has sparked a warning from the coastguard.

The fall, which is due to the winter weather, has affected the Axe golf course and the beach along the East Devon coastline. Beer coastguards have warned people to stay away as debris is still falling in the Haven cliff area east of the River Axe to Coverhole.

The Lyme Regis lifeboat and local coastguards checked the area to make sure no people have been involved in the latest fall along the Jurassic coastline. And they are warning the public 'not to climb or walk over' the affected area.

It follows a collapse last October, which left a vast pile of rubble from the cliffs, which took place on East Beach between West Bay and Freshwater, Dorset. The coastal path above that fall, near Bridport, was already closed due to a previous landslip in February, 2024.

Beer Coastguard Rescue Team posted on Facebook at 10.20am on Saturday: "Haven cliff. Major cliff fall East of the river Axe. This has affected Axe cliff golf course (...)Please stay clear of the area as there is still debris falling there. Ourselves and Lyme regis lifeboat have checked the beach either side of the fall to confirm no persons were involved. STAY CLEAR AND DO NOT CLIMB OR WALK OVER IT."

And the latest rockfall has followed other more minor incidents over the last week where debris has been falling down. The Rescue Team stated on Friday: "Report of a cliff fall near the mouth of the river Axe. Several mud slides / cliff falls along the cliff from the river mouth to Coverhole due to the winter weather, the only new one we could see was a small fall on top of an older fall. No person involved, stood down and returned to station. Please keep away from the base of cliffs as they are very unstable and could fall at any time."

Meanwhile, a photographer was shocked to see people dicing with death on the edge of a Dorset cliff in February last year. The snapper was using a drone to check out the scenery at West Bay near Bridport when he spotted the danger. The eyewitness, who wants to remain anonymous, says: "The group in black looked like a mother with her son and daughter.

"There was another person in orange who was not with them, I think she was a teenager. I was obviously quite shocked to see people so close to the edge, especially the guy in black. This part looks very fragile with large cracks down the face of the cliff.

"The cliff is about 150ft where they are stood." The hair-raising scenes were on cliffs along the same stretch of coastline where there have been frequent collapses. The photographer said: "The cliff falls have been happening quite regularly over the last five years with the last one being about three weeks ago."