Stay away from the cliffs! Moment massive rock fall crashes down onto Devon beach as new warning is issued after more cracks are spotted and Storm Barra lashes Britain
- Soft rock was captured falling off cliffs at Budleigh Salterton, Devon yesterday
- The huge rock fall was followed by a warning to stay away from the cliffs
- This comes as the Met Office issued a severe weather warning for the region
A warning has been issued to stay away from cliffs at a Devon beach after a huge rockfall there.
Dramatic footage filmed at Budleigh Salterton, yesterday around 2pm shows a section of the cliff face crashing onto the beach, sending up clouds of earth.
The Met Office shortly afterwards issued a severe warning for the region as Storm Barra powers through the British Isles.
Heavy rain could trigger more rock slides, the local council warned.
A spokesman for East Devon District Council said the area is prone to cliffs falls because the rock which forms them – a combination of Otter Sandstone and pebbles – is soft, but heavy rain can trigger them.
He added: ‘We are aware of a substantial rock fall that took place in Budleigh Salterton, covering the whole beach area nearest to Jubilee Park.
‘We have already inspected the top of the cliff and once the storm has passed we will be sending engineers to inspect the area further.
The rock fall leaves an orange cloud of dust in its wake in footage captured at Budleigh Salterton, Devon yesterday
Landslides and falls can happen along the cliffs at any time as the rock which forms them is soft but rainfall can be a trigger
‘There is a significant risk of further rock fall as there are some very large cracks that have appeared.
‘We would like to warn residents to please stay clear of the cliffs.
‘The risk of cliff falls is well signed in this area, so members of the public need to adhere to warnings.
‘Cliff falls are a natural and unpredictable occurrence along the East Devon coast, this is because the rock from which the cliffs are formed is soft and therefore prone to rock falls and landslides, which can happen at any time, although heavy rainfall can trigger incidences.
The fall leaves very large cracks in the cliff, meaning there is a further risk
Huge waves crash into the seafront at Dawlish in Devon this morning as a train makes its way along the coastal railway
‘We recommend that people enjoy East Devon cliffs from a distance and do not climb or sit directly beneath them.
‘Please always follow the warning signs.’
As Storm Barra smashes through the UK, massive waves were also seen crashing into the seafront in Dawlish, also in Devon, this morning.
The storm yesterday rushed into the British Isles from the Atlantic, bringing with it 80mph gales, up to eight inches of snow, a tornado warning and fears of power cuts.
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