THE coastal footpath between Watchet and Helwell Bay beach, closed after a major cliff fall earlier this month, will be realigned to a permanent new route later this year, a Somerset County Council spokesman confirmed this week.

In the meantime, walkers are using a temporary diversion through an adjoining field made available by RoyaleLife, owners of the nearby Helwell Bay caravan park.

The cliff fall brought the England Coast Path to within two feet of the cliff edge and opened up large cracks which made the route unsafe to use.

The county council spokesman said: “We would like to thank the owners of the adjacent field, RoyaleLife, for their prompt response and assistance in opening a temporary path allowing people to continue to enjoy this section of the path.

“The council will continue to work with the landowners to realign the path and will confirm the new route later this year”.

Robert Bull, chief executive of RoyaleLife, said: “We were delighted to help the council to get the path re-opened.

“We know the value of being able to walk in such beautiful surroundings and it’s never been more important due the pandemic, so we made it a priority.