Coastal path affected by new landslips near Lulworth Cove

Officers said that there had been cliff-falls west of the beauty spot and that the coastal path had been affected.

The fresh cliff-falls and cracks came on Sunday at about 2pm ranging along the section of coast from Bat's Head to White Nothe.

They have included cracks appearing over a stretch of about 20 metres on the clifftop near Bat's Head as well as landslips on the cliffs themselves in the same area close to Durdle Door.

Lulworth station officer Kevin Burt, who was called out to the landslides on Sunday, said: “There is a lot of erosion.

“Part of the pathway is starting to fall away.”

Some paths are becoming impassable although people can take detours around the danger areas. Coastguards have re-iterated warnings for walkers and people using the coast paths to exercise caution - and to steer well clear of the cliff's edge.

Mr Burt blamed the weather for the recent spate of landslides and deterioration of the cliff tops.

He said: “It's the rain and frost.

“We have had some horrendous weather.”

The cliffs have also been wearing away at Brandy Bay, east of Lulworth Cove.

There is a fence and signs in place warning people to keep back.

Photographer Tom Faull, of Pure Glow Media, also captured scenes of the cliff falls near Durdle Door over the weekend.

A coastguard spokesman said: “Lulworth Coastguards investigated following a report of a number of cliff falls west of Lulworth Cove.

“Once on scene it was established that no one was involved but that the relevant area of the coastal footpath is now in a parlous state.

“The authorities have been informed.”

He added that officers found that sections of the coastal path were becoming impassable in areas.

Purbeck District Council is monitoring the situation but no major action is likely as there is no immediate risk to lives or property.

PANEL THE latest rockfalls comes after a dramatic collapse at Redcliff, near Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth. It left a long crack along the clifftop.

The 150-ft long chunk of Redcliff Point, near Weymouth, dropped by about six feet in March The original coastal path along the cliff has already been moved further inland because of previous erosion on the cliffs east of Weymouth.

There have also been landslides at Monmouth Beach and Ware Cliff area of Lyme Regis where chalets have been affected recently.

There has been a series of rockfalls between the Hive Beach and Freshwater at Burton Bradstock on the stretch where holidaymaker Charlotte Blackman was killed last year.

Footpaths above the Western Ledges in the Bincleaves area of Weymouth were closed in February after landslides.

There have been further reports of movement along parts of the coast around Furzy Cliffs at Bowleaze Cove, the west of Portland, Swanage, West Bay and Charmouth.