Huge 150ft crack appears on Jurassic Coast cliff top after landslip

Walkers and tourists have been warned about an enormous crack that has appeared along the popular Jurassic Coast in Dorset following a landslide.

It is thought heavy rain over the winter months has led to the landslip, which has caused the 150ft long and 6ft deep crack to appear on cliffs near Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth, on a clay section of coastline.

Experts are now warning walkers to avoid the area amid fears it could crumble even more.

Thousands of tons of earth gave way along the South West Coast Path, which is hugely popular with thousands of ramblers.

A spokesman for Portland coastguard told the Daily Mail: "We want people to enjoy the coast but they must pay heed to warning signs, stay away from the edge, and keep dogs on a lead."

According to the BBC, councillor Ian Bruce said: "It's clearly very large and part of the cliff looks like it is about to go."

Richard Edmonds, Jurassic Coast earth science manager at Dorset County Council, also spoke to the BBC: "We have had a lot of rain and that drives landslides but in our experience these things are slow and progressive events that usually provide plenty of warning as they start to fall.

"However, landslides can create rock falls and treacherous mudflows and our advice, as always, is to stay away from the cliffs and take note of local safety signs in the area."

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