Teignbridge District Council is urging residents and visitors to put their safety first and respect path closures currently in place at The Ness in Shaldon following a significant cliff fall last week.

On Friday, March 27 a landslip occurred at The Ness, resulting in soil, rocks, and trees falling onto Shaldon Beach and depositing a tonnes of debris across a section of the shoreline.

Teams from the council have inspected the area and installed warning signage and fencing for areas that have been closed for safety reasons.

The section of the South West Coast Path that runs through the Ness woodland has been closed, and people are advised not to go onto the Shaldon beach at the site of the cliff fall in case of further landslips.

Visitors can still access the SW Coast Path while these closures are in place. The alternative route bypasses the Ness woodland and takes walkers through the Ness car park to the public highway, and on to Shaldon.

A spokesman for the coucnil said: ‘The measures are designed to protect everyone from the risk of falling debris or unstable ground. The public are being advised to follow all signage, respect fencing and barriers, and stay away from any areas which have been closed for safety reasons. We will continue to monitor the area closely and further inspections are planned in the coming weeks.’

Councillor Jackie Hook, Executive Member for Environment, Climate and Sustainability, said: ‘We appreciate that it’s disappointing to have restrictions in areas which are popular with residents and visitors alike, but public safety has to be our priority.’

‘Further falls are likely, so we would urge people to stay well clear - please don’t risk your safety by trying to access areas that have been cordoned off.’

The coastline is a naturally changing environment and while areas often appear stable, the ground can change unexpectedly, particularly following periods of heavy rain. After a very wet winter and as conditions dry out, some further movement of the cliffs may take place in the coming days.

Teignbridge Council has said it will provide more updates following further geological surveys and inspections of the area.