It is the 15th
rock fall since December 2000, and it is believed that 4,000 tons of chalk
has crumbled since the first fall.
Police were forced to control crowds who had gathered to look at the
latest rock fall.
A spokeswoman for Brighton council Diana Barnett said: "The
intense rain has led to a rise in the level of the water table and the
result of this has been the destabilisation of the chalk cliffs.
"It has been estimated that around 4,000 tons have fallen, mainly
behind the shops and Asda in the Marina area."
Areas below this latest cliff fall have been cordoned off and metal
barriers have been erected to stop people using the under-cliff walk.
Nobody has been injured by the chalk falls so far, but users of the
cliff tops and beaches should be aware and remain vigilant to the
instability of the cliffs around our coastline at this time.
