More cliff collapses 'a likelihood', expert warns

Material from two cliff falls has now pushed about 14 beach huts across the promenade

Landslips that destroyed beach huts in Bournemouth will carry on "and become a more serious problem", an expert has warned.

Two landslips happened on 9 October and more recently on Saturday at Durley Chine, west of Bournemouth Pier.

Geologist Alan Holiday said: "With climate change there is a real likelihood that the mass movement is likely to continue."

About 14 beach huts have been pushed forward across the promenade to the edge of the beach, which has been cordoned off.

Visiting the beach following Saturday's collapse Mr Holiday, who is president of the Dorset Geologists' Association Group (DGAG), said work to stabilise the cliffs would be "a serious drainage project".

He said it would mean "nailing into the geology" to keep it in place, which would likely cost "millions or even hundreds of millions to sort out".

"The problem extends from Poole to Hengistbury Head... further slumping could happen anywhere along there.

"With climate change there is a real likelihood that this will continue and become a more serious problem."

Geologist Alan Holiday said unless you can stop water soaking into the rocks they are "going to continue slumping down"

Mr Holiday said: "The big problem is the amount of water that is going into the rocks - unless you can prevent water soaking into the rocks they are going to continue slumping down.

"The soil layer is quite thin and the useful material for the plants is in the surface of the soil and not deeper down."

He said the material that makes up the cliffs "is not very strong" as it is only about 35-50 million years old.

Fencing and warning signs have been put in place along a stretch of the promenade

On Saturday before the cliff material fell away visitors to the beach reported hearing loud cracking noises as tree and shrub roots ripped from the ground.

Mobile phone footage of the fall also captured the moment a woman and her dog ran to the beach as the landslip thrust the beach huts across the seafront path.

The herd of about 50 goats that graze the steep cliffs between West Cliff and Southbourne in Bournemouth were not affected by the landslips and remain safe.

Rangers who oversee a herd said: "No goats are currently housed in that enclosure. We're keeping a close eye on our other enclosures."

Rangers are keeping a close eye on nearby enclosures where a herd of goats which manage the vegetation are housed

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council's Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) experts and a Geotech engineer are carrying out investigations.

An extended wire fence and warning signs have been put in place at the site of the landslips.

The council said results from their inspections were expected in the coming days.