Coaches banned from Birling Gap as cliffs crumble

Coaches have been banned from parking or dropping passengers off at Birling Gap, the National Trust has confirmed.

More than 600,000 people visit Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters cliffs in East Sussex each year.

The coastguard recently urged people to stay away from cliff edges and bases after a large crack opened up near the Belle Tout lighthouse at Beachy Head.

However, visitors were seen peering over the cliff edges last week.

The National Trust said coaches were no longer permitted to take tourists to Birling Gap and Seven Sisters as it tries to reduce visitor numbers.

A spokesperson for the trust said: "At Birling Gap, we welcome over 600,000 visitors every year to this small rural clifftop location that is vulnerable to coastal erosion.

"We've seen a significant increase in coach visits in recent years, which the site is unable to cope with.

"We continue to welcome visitors by car, motorbike, minibus and bus service."

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