A LARGE landslip has blocked more than 400 metres of coastline near Lyme Regis.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the landslide obstructed a stretch of beach between Lyme Regis and neighbouring Charmouth.

Police say the landslide is the worst for 100 years' and people are today being warned to stay away from the area because it is still dangerously unstable.

Portland Coastguard received several 999 calls reporting the landslip, on the eastern side of Lyme Regis, at around 8pm yesterday.

Crews struggled to assess the damage because it was too dark and it was high tide at the time.

The site was cordoned off and coastguards from Lyme Regis, West Dorset District Council officials and emergency planning teams were meeting this morning to survey and monitor the situation.

Coastguard watch manager Andy Jenkins said: "An area of the coastline 400 metres long has now been blocked by the landslip. We will today be surveying the incident. We would ask all members of the public to respect cordons that are now in place and stay away from the area.

"The ground is still very unstable and entering the area at this time is extremely dangerous."

The affected coastline has seen numerous stabilisation projects in the past to try and stop it from crumbling into the sea.