Do you ever visit the Seven Sisters or any of the other marvellous chalk cliffs at our coast? If so, you are urged to stay safe and remember the cliffs are often extremely unstable.
And just this week, startling pictures have appeared showing tourists taking selfies dangerous close to the cliff edge at Birling Gap – unaware of how fragile the cliffs are.
There are dozens of cliff falls each year and thousands of tonnes of chalk fall from the cliffs. Many large cracks are invisible from the cliff top. The danger can only be seen from the sea or air.
But despite warnings from councils, the Coastguard, and the South Downs Authority, visitors still regularly stand too close to the edge of the cliffs, or walk or sit at the cliff base when on the beach.
A spokesperson for the authorities said: “The cliffs contain many overhangs and cracks that visitors may not be able to see, as illustrated recently by a large crack in the chalk cliff near Belle Tout lighthouse.
“The cliffs, while beautiful, are extremely unstable and huge quantities of chalk can fall at any time with absolutely no warning. We want people to enjoy visiting the stunning East Sussex coast but to do so safely and urge them to stay back from the cliff edges and bases.”
The safety messages are part of an ongoing joint campaign being promoted by the county council, HM Coastguard, The National Trust, South Downs National Park Authority, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Seaford Town Council, Wealden District Council, Eastbourne Borough Council and Lewes District Council.