Huge cliff fall in Sidmouth

James Newman caught the dramatic landslip on camera having just walked to the town from Ladram Bay, where he works.

Scores of people on a busy seafront looked up to see a huge chunk of rock plunging to the beach below while throwing up a towering dust cloud at around 1.45pm.

“As we came around the corner on to the seafront, I saw the huge cloud of dust,” said James.

“It seemed to be a substantial amount of rock and mud that had fallen. From the distance we were at we didn’t hear anything, but the sight was quite awe inspiring.”

The area near Pennington Point is prone to dramatic landslides - with homes in Cliff Road edging ever closer to the sea with each collapse.

A 12-month project to draw up a £75,000 Beach Management Plan for Sidmouth began in December.

It is hoped the blueprint, being drawn up by the district council with input from residents and various agencies and authorities, will pinpoint a solution to rapid erosion at Pennington Point.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson visited the area earlier this month to see the issues first hand.

‘Crikey’ was the reaction of one resident when he surveyed the beleaguered coastline.