CLIFF COLLAPSE AT GOLDEN CAP PROMPTS SAFETY WARNING - ⚠️

Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News

Tonnes of rock have crashed from the cliffs at Golden Cap near Lyme Regis, prompting safety warnings from the Coastguard.

The dramatic fall was captured on camera by local resident and fossil hunter Chris Gasson, who said the ground shook as the cliff gave way around 300 metres from where he was standing.

“The whole ground was shaking as tonnes came down 300 metres from me. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience which was fantastic to see in its own way,” he said. “I would encourage people to stay well away from the cliff as more is likely to fall in the coming days.”

Pictures show rock tumbling down the face of the cliff, and a huge cloud of dust sweeping across the beach below.

Emergency teams from Lyme Regis and West Bay Coastguard, along with the RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, were called to the scene shortly before 1.00pm on Thursday, 22nd August. A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed that no one was hurt.

They added, “Cliffs can be more unstable than they look, and cliff falls or landslides happen without warning.”

Walkers and beachgoers are being urged to stay away from the cliff edge and to follow safety advice, including sticking to marked paths, avoiding the base of cliffs, and never attempting to climb them.

The incident follows recent warnings about unstable cliffs at Seatown Beach and West Bay, where rockfalls are a regular occurrence.

Golden Cap, the highest point on the south coast, is a popular destination for walkers and fossil hunters, but experts say the dramatic landscape can change without notice.

( Photos: Chris Gasson 📸 )