Landslip is 'worst in 100 years'
A landslip described as "the worst for 100 years" has destroyed more than 400 metres (1,312 ft) of Dorset's World Heritage Jurassic Coast.
The earth movement blocked a stretch of beach between Lyme Regis and Charmouth but there are no reports of injuries.
Portland Coastguard was called at 2031 BST on Tuesday after several 999 calls.
A spokeswoman said the site was "still rumbling" when crews left for the night but it was too dark to assess damage. Work resumed at first daylight.
The area is part of 95 miles (153 km) of Dorset and east Devon known as the Jurassic Coast, with rocks recording 185 million years of the earth's history.
It was England's first natural UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage Site.
The area affected, about the length of four football pitches, is still very unstable.
"They've assessed it this morning," the Coastguard spokeswoman said.
"Because it's a big landslip, we've got the local council and police involved to cordon off the beach.
"It's a very, very popular fossiling area, so our main concern is to keep members of the public away because it's such a big landslip - it's the biggest they've seen."
Police described it as the "worst for 100 years".
Lyme Regis is built on a particularly unstable stretch of coastline and previous smaller landslips have exposed fossils on the beaches.
The coastline has seen numerous stabilisation projects in the past to stop it from crumbling into the sea.
In February, a consultation began with residents for a new £21m scheme that would have included a new sea wall on the eastern side of the town.
West Dorset District Council has already carried out two major schemes to protect and stabilise the town.
The council's planning and environment director, David Evans, said: "I would strongly advise people to keep away from the landslip for their own safety.
"It is not in a fossil area and is extremely muddy."
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/engla...7386923.stm
A landslip described as "the worst for 100 years" has destroyed more than 400 metres (1,312 ft) of Dorset's World Heritage Jurassic Coast.
The earth movement blocked a stretch of beach between Lyme Regis and Charmouth but there are no reports of injuries.
Portland Coastguard was called at 2031 BST on Tuesday after several 999 calls.
A spokeswoman said the site was "still rumbling" when crews left for the night but it was too dark to assess damage. Work resumed at first daylight.
The area is part of 95 miles (153 km) of Dorset and east Devon known as the Jurassic Coast, with rocks recording 185 million years of the earth's history.
It was England's first natural UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage Site.
The area affected, about the length of four football pitches, is still very unstable.
"They've assessed it this morning," the Coastguard spokeswoman said.
"Because it's a big landslip, we've got the local council and police involved to cordon off the beach.
"It's a very, very popular fossiling area, so our main concern is to keep members of the public away because it's such a big landslip - it's the biggest they've seen."
Police described it as the "worst for 100 years".
Lyme Regis is built on a particularly unstable stretch of coastline and previous smaller landslips have exposed fossils on the beaches.
The coastline has seen numerous stabilisation projects in the past to stop it from crumbling into the sea.
In February, a consultation began with residents for a new £21m scheme that would have included a new sea wall on the eastern side of the town.
West Dorset District Council has already carried out two major schemes to protect and stabilise the town.
The council's planning and environment director, David Evans, said: "I would strongly advise people to keep away from the landslip for their own safety.
"It is not in a fossil area and is extremely muddy."
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/engla...7386923.stm
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Unsu...
Re: I'd love a rummage through this lot!
Fri, May 9, 2008 - 5:12 PMAn indication of keeness when I go to that beach during June in my beach bag will be: trowel / sieve/ large shovel/ brushes/ very large bucket and a magnifying glass. -
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Re: I'd love a rummage through this lot!
Sat, May 10, 2008 - 1:52 AMBetter than turning up on a beach packed with sunbathers on a scorching hot day complete with hard hat which the OU field trips insist upon!
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