Ventnor landslip leaves man's house 10ft from cliff edge

A man has said his house has been left perilously close to a cliff edge after a major landslip.

Sean Puttick was among residents from 20 homes near Ventnor, Isle of Wight, who had to leave on Sunday night.

"We've literally got 10ft [of land left] before a 90ft-plus cliff.," he told BBC News.

Residents from some homes were able to return on Tuesday but a small number, including Mr Puttick, are awaiting further checks on their properties.

He said: "There was this bizarre noise... I thought it was fireworks, but of course on reflection it was the tree roots starting to move. Within five minutes it all started to drop - everything has just gone downwards.

"If there is more movement then the house most certainly will go, we've literally got 10ft [of land left] before a 90ft-plus cliff.

"Our whole life is in that house - but what can we do.. where do we go? At the moment we just don't know what's happening.

"We just need... [to] clear your house out and get out as quick as you can. It's a numb feeling because we just don't know."

Isle of Wight Council said risk assessments on Tuesday had shown "most properties are a sufficient distance away from the most affected area to be able to return home".

"There are a small number of properties that are still being advised not to return and further technical assessments need to be completed in the coming days," the authority said.

The road and footpaths between Shanklin and Ventnor, on the south-east coast of the island, remain closed.

The council has urged people to stay away from the Bonchurch area.

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