THE RNLI has endorsed West Somerset Council’s warning to stay away from the coastline between Blue Anchor and Watchet.

As reported in the Free Press, recent high tides and storms have caused huge rock falls, destablising the cliffs.

Now, lifeboat officials in Minehead say that not only have the falls created new hazards for those trying to walk between Blue Anchor and Watchet but the cliffs are still unstable and fresh landslides could happen at any time.

And they say people should avoid the area rather than take risks which could end up in costly and difficult rescue operations.

The two miles of cliffs between Blue Anchor and Watchet have been eroding more rapidly in recent years. And walkers trapped by rock falls and the rising tide have sparked a number of calls for the RNLI’s services.

The latest landslides came as high tides battered the coast after weeks of heavy rain. They have exposed large numbers of fossils but the RNLI at Minehead has warned collectors not to put themselves at risk.

Station spokesman Chris Rundle said: "It’s undoubtedly the section between Blue Anchor and Watchet which poses the biggest danger. Our information is that there are new waterfalls appearing out of the cliffs because of the amount of rain we have had and that makes further major falls almost inevitable."