WALKERS are being warned to take extra care after a 200-metre stretch of the cliff path between Watchet and Blue Anchor crashed 40 feet onto the beach below.

Local boatman Steve Yeandle of the Scooby Doo Too first noticed boulders and earth tumbling down the cliff face last Tuesday (December 29).

But sometime between then and New Year's Day the tumble became a cascade, bringing thousands of tonnes of rock and soil crashing down onto the beach.

Watchet Coastguard member Nick Tapp said it was vital people took extra care in the area as the cliff fall had left both the path and beach in an extremely treacherous condition.

"The area is very popular with walkers, but the path is now just three feet wide at its narrowest point and people need to be aware they must be very careful if they walk on either the beach or the footpath," he said.

"There are a number of large boulders that look like they could fall at any moment and if we get any more heavy rain and frost together there is much more that is likely to fall."

Mr Tapp said he had been in touch with Watchet Town Council, which in turn had contacted Somerset County Council's rights of way team about the landslide.

"It must have been massive as there are thousands of tonnes of debris on the beach and 15 or so huge great trees that have been brought down and ended up bolt upright on the beach below," Mr Tapp said.

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said the cliff fall had been reported to them on Monday and the situation was being investigated.

"We will be talking to the landowners to discuss the way forward," the spokesman added.