UPDATE, December 1: Emergency survey reveals risk of 'further imminent falls' at cliff in Cornwall

Steps and a section of footpath leading to a beach in Newquay have been closed off to the public following a large cliff fall this afternoon (Wednesday).

Cormac has announced that due to the cliff fall on Whipsderry Beach, the steps and surrounding footpath will be closed for safety reasons and to allow specialist engineers to carry out investigations on site.

Members of the public are being asked to keep well away from the cliff edge and to follow the signage now in place.

Beach users walking from Porth or Watergate Bay beaches are also being urged to check tide times to avoid being cut off.

A post shared on Cormac’s Facebook page said: “There has been a large cliff fall on Whipsiderry Beach this afternoon. Our specialist engineers will be on site carrying out investigations. The steps and surrounding footpath are closed for safety reasons.

“This is a reminder to beach users walking from Porth or Watergate Bay beaches to check the tide times to avoid being cut off. Please keep well away from the cliff edge and follow the signage in place.”

The cliffs at Whipsiderry were used back in March for a community-led protest by locals who were campaigning to have work stopped to fill in caves at the base of the cliffs, to enable properties to be developed on top of the 200-foot cliff.

At the time, the Save Whipsiderry Cliffs group wanted to take the opportunity to clean up after the contractors who had been excavating sea caves, with heavy machinery, drilling into rock, inserting steel rods and filling the caves with concrete, including part of the cliff face above.

Lyndsey Young, who spoke on behalf of the Save Whipsiderry Cliffs public group at the time said: “After the very successful protests, we wanted to bring the community together again with more positive action.

"The Newquay community consider themselves custodians of this beach & cliffs and will do all they can to protect & preserve it. The beach clean is a way they can give something back to Whipsiderry to benefit the environment, the wildlife & the public.”