NEW signs have been put up to try to manage fossil hunting on beaches near Watchet through the summer holidays.

It follows complaints that some collectors have been causing damage by chiselling away at rocks and cliff faces, and even putting themselves in danger beneath unstable cliffs.

The signs result from a partnership between Watchet’s town council, conservation society, and ecological and geological consultancy Geckoella.

Geckoella artist-in-residence Alison Jacobs said: “Now we are in the throws of the summer holidays we need to encourage the visiting public to look after our beauty spots and fossil hunt responsibly.

“It is great to see the new fossil collecting signs are now being erected at Helwell Bay and Doniford Beach.

“Following the responsible fossil collecting code and taking home only loose samples picked up from the beach are key steps in helping conserve the local fossil heritage for everybody to experience and enjoy.

“Well done to everybody involved in this project, especially Watchet Conservation Society and the town council, Geckoella were delighted to be able to assist with this important initiative.”

Watchet Mayor Cllr Loretta Whetlor said: “We were very pleased to partner with Watchet Conservation Society and our local experts Geckoella Ltd in supporting this initiative.

“We love to welcome all visitors to the area, especially to enjoy our wonderful coastline with its Jurassic geology and fossils.

“New signs have been erected at Helwell Bay and Doniford Beach, our most popular fossil collecting spots, to encourage visitors to follow the responsible code.

“This requires them to only take a few representative loose samples which can be picked up from the beach and not to hammer the bedrock or cliffs, nor to collect from underneath them, because they are very unstable.

“In this way, we trust that all will help conserve our very special heritage for everybody to enjoy.”