Dramatic photos of the latest cliff falls at East Beach have been captured by holidaymakers and a local resident.
Visitor Lee Holt was walking on the Esplanade with his wife Joanne at 9.15 this morning (Monday, August 8) when part of the cliff collapsed, sending up huge clouds of dust.
He said: “We started to walk along the promenade towards the cliffs. I spotted a small dust cloud on the beach, and then suddenly the cliff face gave way. We didn't hear anything but just the sight was immense.
"The lifeguard came running up and was on to the coastguard within seconds."
Another holidaymaker, Clive Mason, also saw the rock fall and captured it on film.
As onlookers stared at the dramatic scene, Beer Coastguard Rescue team were called out to check that nobody was buried, cut off or injured by the falling rocks.
A spokesman for the team said: “Sidmouth lifeguards offered their assistance, which was accepted, and one lifeguard paddled to the East and confirmed nobody was cut off.
“He had to warn a couple of people who were walking towards the fall about the danger.
“Police were also on scene, a team went to the cliff top and found that the fencing on the cliff edge was now hanging down the cliff, so the local council were advised.
“As no one was reported missing we were stood down.”
About two hours later a second rock fall was seen, and photographed, by Sidmouth resident Hans Erwig as he was sitting on the Esplanade eating a takeaway.
These latest cliff collapses come exactly two weeks after the last landslide there, on Monday, July 25. At the time, both East Devon District Council and the beach lifeguards repeated their warnings to stay away from East Beach because of the high risk of a rock fall.
Beer Coastguard Rescue Team said: "East Beach at Sidmouth is officially closed due to the dangers of falling cliff. The gate is for emergency exit from the beach/sea.
"Please keep away from the beach and also away from the cliff edge."
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