SEVERAL tonnes of Sidmouth s red Alma Cliff collapsed into the River Sid on Tuesday night, partially blocking it.
SEVERAL tonnes of Sidmouth's red Alma Cliff collapsed into the River Sid on Tuesday night, partially blocking it.
East Devon District Council, which owns the cliffs, contacted the Environment Agency, which is responsible for the river, and agreed to instruct contractors to remove the fallen material as soon as possible.
The fall, the second in just a few days, was upstream from Alma Bridge, at a spot known locally as The Hanger.
An EDDC spokesman said: "Due to the state of the cliff face, a risk assessment will be carried out before work commences to remove the large lumps of clay from the river.
"This is to ensure that the workforce will not be in danger of any further material falling on them whilst they are working.
"A survey of the cliff face will be carried out and, based on this assessment, a decision will be taken as to whether any remedial work needs to be done."
Speaking from the fall, Councillor Stuart Hughes said: "It is a substantial fall and pretty worrying. There are fissures going up through the side so there could be more falls."
* Read Friday's Sidmouth Herald for full details.
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