STEEP steps leading to a popular West Dorset beach are being removed this week.

The National Trust closed the route down to St Gabriel's Beach between Seatown and Charmouth last year following a major cliff fall.

Experts said the steps could collapse at any moment and took immediate action to seal them off.

But despite warning signs members of the public have continued to use the steps throughout the winter - putting their lives at risk.

This week the Trust announced that work will now begin to dismantle the steps altogether.

Property Manager Helen Mann said they had no option.

"The steps could fall into the sea at any time," she said.

"There has been considerable movement of the cliff face since we took the decision to close them last autumn and what was potentially a hazardous descent to the beach is now extremely dangerous.

"The cliff is subject to undercutting, subsidence or rapid erosion at any time and the health and safety of beach users has to be paramount. The cliff fall at Burton Bradstock a few weeks ago shows just how vulnerable this section of the coastline is."

Ms Mann said the Trust still hoped to create an alternative access to the beach and were taking advice from experts about the best way this could be achieved.

But she warned that it would depend on the stability of the geology and health and safety issues.