Pictured: Birling Gap visitors pose for photos on risky cliff edges

Sightseers have been warned to stay away from cliff edges after children were spotted trying to lean over the chalk faces of Birling Gap.

Tourists have been perching on the edge of the cliffs in East Sussex to pose for pictures despite two major cliff falls in recent weeks.

Huge sections of cliff at Seaford Head and Peacehaven collapsed in the space of a few days in February.

That prompted councils to team up with HM Coastguard and landowners to launch a campaign reminding people of the risk posed by the unstable chalk cliffs.

But their warnings appeared to be ignored on Friday when parents and children were seen walking up to the cliff edge and peering over.

The National Trust, which manages the stretch of land around Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters, said people all too often forget the potential dangers of erosion.

It warns: “Our white cliffs are beautiful but also very fragile. They may appear safe to stand on, but chalk is a soft rock that can be softened further by heavy rain or undercut by wind and wave action. This means the cliff edge is very unstable and at risk of collapsing at all times.

“It is unsafe to stand on or near the edge and near the base of the cliffs. Always keep at least 5m back from the cliff edge and the base of the cliff, even when the sun is shining.”

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said “we continue to see people getting perilously close to the edge of the cliffs” and “without realising the dangers”.

The council added: “The cliffs contain many overhangs and cracks that visitors may not be able to see, and the unstable chalk can fall at any time with absolutely no warning.

“We want to encourage people to continue to visit the area safely.”

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “The cliffs along the UK coastline are continually eroding, with pieces falling from them that can be just a few small rocks or as large as a car. It’s impossible to predict when the next piece might fall or how big it will be.”

It added that periods of intense rainfall will often make cliff edges more vulnerable.

“We really can’t stress enough how important it is to keep back from the edge. There is no ‘safe’ place to be.

“If cracks have appeared even if they are several feet away from the edge, don’t be tempted to go and investigate and don’t risk going to the edge to get a dramatic picture. Please enjoy your coastal walk, but make sure you and your loved ones come home again safely.”

The RNLI urged anyone heading to the coast this weekend to be aware of their surroundings and know the risks.

A spokesman said on Friday: “Be wary of all edges around the sea and waterside. Slips and falls happen in all locations; it is not just high cliff edges that are a risk.”

Following the most recent collapse at Seaford Head, passers-by told how they had been caught completely by surprise as large sections of cliff crashed down onto the beach below.

Ashley Tyler, 75, described hearing a “rumbling sound” before the chalk cliff gave way.

He said at the time: “It was pretty dramatic, with the rumbling sound as the chalk came crashing down. I can still hear it now ringing in my head.”