landslip in britport
The massive landslip along the coast between Eype and West Bay
Beach-goers and fossil hunters have been warned to keep away from a massive landslip at West Bay.

Councils and coastguards sealed off the coast between West Bay and Eype after the landslide from the cliff to the waterline.

Now they are warning people to beware of the danger amid fears more earth may collapse.

West Dorset District Council technical services manager Steve Woollard said: "We have put up warning signs on both sides of the beach leading up to the landslide and also at the end of the Esplanade at West Bay.

"RNLI signs at West Bay and Eype already warn about coastal hazards, such as falling rocks.

"Conditions can change at the coast very quickly and our general advice, as always, is for people to be careful and stay aware of their surroundings, and for the moment to keep clear of the landslide."

The landslip, early on Thursday morning, covered the entire beach to the west of West Bay.

A coastguard officer who works at West Bay reported the landslide after being alerted to it.

A Portland Coastguard spokesman said: "It is quite a large slip. There is a lot of disruption and cracking at the top edge of the cliff although it is behind the fence line.

"The beach may well be blocked. We advise people to steer clear.

"There may be more material to come down. People shouldn't be on there poking around. They need to keep well away."

Dorset County Council's Jurassic Coast team is also monitoring the situation.

They said that landslips weren't bad for the coast but also stressed that people should be careful and that the slide was unlikely to yield any fossils.

Earth science advisor Sam Scriven said that erosion was good for the Jurassic Coast.

He said it keeps the work exposed, looking beautiful and leaves fossils on the beach in some places.

But he added that on this stretch of the coast there were unlikely to be any fossils to be found.

He said: "It is very unsafe and not worth crawling around on it.

"The best places for fossils are Charmouth and Lyme Regis, and to go with a guide."

He said that landslides did not destroy the heritage coast but were the reason it retains its interest.

He said that the landslide may have been caused by heavy rain although there may have been other causes.

"Landslides are quite unpredictable.

"It could have been the rain. It might have been a reaction from the weather over the winter.

"It might have taken a time to react. There can be a delay."