Narrow escape: A couple on Sidmouth's easter beach - just yards from a plume of dust. Photo by Eve Mathews.

Holidaymakers and local people are being urged to exercise extreme caution on and close to East Devon’s cliffs.

Following the tragic death of a woman on a beach in Lyme Bay near Bridport and a number of cliff falls in East Devon, people are being reminded that they need to be very careful when walking or sunbathing on the stunning heritage coastline.

It follows a number of cliff falls in at Budleigh Salterton, East Walk: Sidmouth, East Beach: Seaton, Old Beer Road and West Walk and Axmouth Harbour, National England Cliffs.

“We want visitors to enjoy the fabulous coastline that we have here in East Devon especially now summer has arrived,” said Iain Chubb, Portfolio Holder for the Environment. “However, people need to pay attention to the signs which are in place, not access beaches where barriers have been placed and avoid getting close to the cliffs. The large amounts of rain we have had over the last three months have destabilised a number of the cliff faces and it can be very difficult to predict when or where the next fall will occur.”