Storm Ciarán causes section of West Bay cliff to collapse

Storm Ciarán has caused a large section of cliff to collapse on to a beach.

Walkers are being warned to avoid the area at West Bay in Dorset after it was battered by huge waves on Thursday.

Bridport Town Council said: "A new day, a new rockfall. Locals know the drill but please warn any visitors about the unstable cliffs."

After filming a drone video of the site, West Bay Photography commented: "Lots of the cliff looking very unstable further along."

Social media users have taken to Facebook to discuss the rockfall, with one commenting the beach should be closed temporarily "before someone is killed".

In September, experts warned fossil hunters of the dangers on the coast and to avoid recent cliff falls.

Dorset Council posted a statement on social media confirming the path from West Bay to Burton Bradstock had been closed.

It comes after residents at the Freshwater Beach Holiday Park in Burton Bradstock had to be evacuated following severe flooding caused by the storm on Thursday.

Dorset Council has urged people to "stay away from the coast".

It said: "We are also receiving reports of people visiting East Beach, which is at risk from wave overtopping.

"Please stay away from the coast. Beaches, cliffs, piers, harbours etc. are potentially dangerous... so do not visit these places until the weather improves."

A council spokesman added the latest fall followed a smaller one which happened a few hours before.

He said: "It was a possibility that after the bashing the cliffs had from Storm Ciarán yesterday that rockfalls and landslides would follow.

"The Jurassic Coast is a wonderful place to visit, but by it's nature it is constantly eroding."

The spokesman said "golden rules" for the public to remember included staying away from both the edge of the cliff top and base of cliffs, paying attention to warning signs, checking tide times before setting off and keeping dogs on leads near the cliff edge.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].