A visitor has called it “a miracle” no-one was hurt when a section of cliff collapsed on to a beach on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.
Suzanne Sears was taking a walk near West Bay when she heard “a deep cracking noise” coming from the cliffs before the rockfall shortly after 16:00 GMT on Tuesday.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed a rescue team was sent to a report of a cliff fall at West Bay and “no one was found to be in distress”.
Dorset Council urged people to take notice of warning signs and to stay away from the edge and the base of cliffs.
Ms Sears, from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, is staying on the Dorset coast for the new year with her family and said she was about 20m (65ft) away from the cliff when it fell.
“I looked up and saw dust falling, followed soon after by a large and loud rockfall, which then created a big pile of rubble and large dust cloud,” she said.
“It was a miracle nobody was hurt as the beach was busy with dog walkers and people taking a sunset stroll.”
She praised the response of coastguards who she said were on the scene within 10 minutes.
Rockfalls are common along the stretch of sandstone cliffs, which appeared in the TV series Broadchurch.
The 95-mile-long Jurassic Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its outstanding rocks, fossils, and landforms.
Dorset Council said: “Rockfalls and landslips can happen at any time. If you are out on the coast, please stay safe by taking notice of warning signs and keep to existing paths.
“Stay away from the edge and the base of cliffs.
“Rockfalls and landslips are part of the movement which makes up the unique nature of this coastline.”
