Somerset fossil collectors warned of 'coast risks' after storms

Fossil collectors have been asked to keep away from the "dangerous" stretch of cliffs

Fossil collectors and walkers have been asked to stay away from a section of "unstable" West Somerset coastline.

"Huge rock falls" have created hazards between Blue Anchor and Watchet and landslides could happen at any time, the RNLI has warned.

The rescue charity said high tides had battered the coast and landslides had "exposed large numbers of fossils".

However collectors have been warned to avoid putting themselves at risk along the two-mile (3.2km) section of cliffs.

'Biggest danger'

Station spokesman Chris Rundle said the Minehead crew was "regularly" responding to calls from people stuck on or under cliffs along the coast between Blue Anchor and Hinkley Point.

"But it's undoubtedly the section between Blue Anchor and Watchet which poses the biggest danger," he said.

"There are very few points where it's possible to climb the cliffs to escape the incoming tide and a lot of people who have tried have ended up in very inaccessible situations where we haven't been able to reach them from the sea, coastguards haven't been able to get to them from the land and a helicopter rescue has been the only option.

"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.

"It really is an area to avoid, rather than explore, at the moment."

The section of cliffs between Blue Anchor and Watchet "poses the biggest danger"