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WATCH: Dramatic coastal cliff-fall caught on camera
The coast path leading to Sidestrand beach near to where there was a cliff collapse. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2019
Tonnes of earth were sent plummeting onto a Norfolk beach in a cliffside collapse which was captured on camera.
The cliff collapse at Sidestrand beach where the fresh earth pile can be seen near to the end of the green cliff. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2019
Brad Damms, from Holt, was on the beach at Sidestrand, near Cromer, at around 6.30am today (Wednesday, June 12), when he saw the cliff fall.
Mr Damms said he was stunned by the force of the collapse.
He said: "It's by far the biggest I have seen.
"It was awesome but sad to watch.
Brad Damms, who saw the cliff fall at Sidestrand. Picture: COURTESY OF BRAD DAMMS - Credit: Archant
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"I have seen a much smaller one there and smaller ones at Happisburgh but nothing on this scale."
HM Coastguard later sent a team there to ensure the area was safe.
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Pete Revell, from the Coastguard's Bacton team, warned of the danger of further cliff falls caused by the recent heavy rain.
Mr Revell said: "We've had three days of heavy rain and there's more to come so this could be the start of the cliffs being unstable at the moment.
Volunteer coastguard rescue officer Christon Iliffe, at Sidestrand beach near to where there was a cliff collapse. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2019
"The water coming off the fields makes the cliffs absolutely saturated and it ends up becoming a mud bath."
He said the cliff-fall meant it was now impossible to walk along the beach between Trimingham and Sidestrand at high tide, as the new earth went all the way to the waterline.
Mr Revell urged walkers to give the area wide berth, and to be especially careful when walking along the coast.
"You really need to have your wits about you because, as you can see, it's a dangerous situation," he said.
The cliff collapse at Sidestrand beach where the fresh earth pile can be seen near to the end of the green cliff. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2019
"We've got cliffs from Weybourne right around to Happisburgh, which is always unstable anyway.
"Walkers should be very mindful of the dangers, and say away from the top of the cliffs, and the base of the cliffs as well.
"You should also check the tide times.
"And if you see anything dangerous on our coastline, please call the Coastguard."
A cliff fall at Sidestrand, near Cromer, was captured on camera. Picture: Brad Damms/ScanLAB Projects - Credit: Archant
Mr Damms is part-way through a six-month project scanning and photographing the Norfolk coast for a London studio called ScanLAB Studios.
The cliff fall is the latest fascinating brush with nature he has had as part of the assignment.
