THE West Somerset coastline continues to erode away with a further large cliff fall at Helwell Bay in Watchet yesterday (Friday, May 15).

Team members for HM Watchet Coastguard are urging caution in the area, advising people to avoid the base of the cliffs.

About an hour after the Coastguard team had left the scene, having checked to see if anyone was injured or trapped, a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) had to intervene as a group of adults and children were sighted climbing and hammering at the cliff.

Somerset County Gazette:

A spokesman for HM Coastguard Watchet said: "A PCSO was nearby and attended and gave advice to them to stop and not climb the collapsing cliff, and certainly not go looking for fossils in the loose material.

"Our advice remains, where possible avoid the base of cliffs, keep away the same distance as the height of the cliff where possible, do not climb cliffs and certainly avoid hammering at these cliffs with chisels or hammers looking for fossils.

"Whilst there has been a significant movement of soil, there was not sufficient to require the clifftop footpath closed, albeit there are signs with the grass/ground level dropping that more is due to go at some point.

Somerset County Gazette:

"This includes a large crack in the rock which is likely to fall away and will reduce the distance from the path to the cliff edge."

Somerset County Gazette:

Jeffrey Coles was walking on the beach at the time of the collapse and captured this image.

"It was just a big block that fell away yesterday, but if you face the cliff you will see a crack going from top to bottom," he said.

"It looks like the whole strip could come down at any time."