COASTGUARD WARN OF ROCK FALL DANGER

Portland Coastguard was alerted to a large rock fall at just after 10 a.m. on 23 May 2001 one mile from Charmouth, towards Golden Cap on the Dorset coast. People were seen running from the area so initial concerns centred on people who may have been injured or were trapped by the fall.

Portland Coastguard tasked the Coastguard Rescue Team from Lyme Regis and requested the launch of the RNLI inshore lifeboat from Lyme. A thorough search of the whole area was undertaken and when all people were accounted for the rescue units were stood down.

Warning signs have been placed in the area of the fall but further reports indicate that people are not heeding the signs and some have been seen actually climbing on the rock fall. There are two very large cracks in the cliff and second rock fall is quite possible.

In April a 100ft chalk tower, known locally as Devil's Chimney, near Eastbourne, collapsed because of the huge amount of rainfall soaked up by the cliffs. While in early February hundreds of thousands of tonnes of chalk cliff fell into the sea along a quarter-mile stretch of coast between Dover and St Margaret's Bay.

Portland Coastguard Watch Manager, Derek Beacon said, "We urge the public to take note of the signs erected by the Local Authority, this is a dangerous place at the moment and we suggest walkers use a different route.

"As the cliff is drying out from a very wet winter in the current spell of good weather, other rock falls may occur so walkers should take as much care as possible, not walking too close to the edge on top of cliffs or too close to cliffs when at the base."