Dramatic images captured the moment tourists watched as a cloud of orange dust enveloped a Devon beach following a cliff collapse.
The incident occurred at Jacob’s Ladder beach in Sidmouth around 3pm on Saturday, July 18, just days before a thatched cottage perched on the cliff edge was set to be auctioned. Despite efforts to sell the three-bedroom property for £250,000 on July 21, it remained unsold. The house, originally designed and constructed in the 1960s for the novelist R. F. Delderfield, sits on Peak Hill Road with a market value ranging from £1.1 million to £1.6 million. The current owner purchased the property for £695,000 in 2011.
Due to safety concerns, the Grade II-listed Jacob’s Ladder steps and the nearby Millennium Walkway have been closed since earlier this year and are expected to remain shut until at least 2027.
Sidmouth town beach and Jacob’s Ladder beach are part of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 95 miles from Exmouth to Dorset.
An East Devon Council spokesperson informed the BBC that the soft rock cliffs in the area are prone to rock falls and landslides, warranting annual inspections and safety measures. While the property’s cliff is not under the council’s monitoring program, safety signage is provided at council-managed beaches to warn visitors of potential risks. Coastguards advise maintaining a safe distance from cliffs equal to their height to prevent accidents. In case of a cliff fall incident, emergency services should be contacted immediately, and individuals should refrain from approaching or exploring affected areas.