THE biggest cliff fall for decades has triggered a warning with experts predicting more to come.

Up to ten metres of cliff was lost at the Seven Sisters as thousands of tons of chalk fell on to the beach and sea below.

People are being advised to stay away from cliff edges with experts warning of more falls.

Alan Novis from the Newhaven RNLI took a video from the sea showing the results of the dramatic erosion at the beauty spot near Cuckmere Haven and the piles of chalk left on the beach.

He said: “It is the biggest I have ever seen and I have lived on the coast for more than 50 years.

“I think a cliff fall on this scale is very rare but it certainly could happen again.

“I’ve also recently seen evidence of other smaller falls along the coast and it is clear the cliff edge is very fragile at the moment.

“Not only is there a danger for people walking along the top of the cliffs, there is also the risk to those who may be walking below.

“There is nothing you can do to stop cliff erosion so we would advise people to be very careful.”

John Barlow, University of Sussex senior lecturer in applied geomorphology, said he believed the fall was the biggest incident in at least ten years.

He said there were likely to be other smaller falls to come in the coming months and years.

Dr Barlow said: “The nature of cliff retreat is quite episodic such that you get these very large events infrequently and a lot of smaller events in between.

“The system is primarily controlled through the delivery of wave energy to the base of the cliff which damages the rock and leads to eventual failure."

Residents at Cuckmere Haven have started their own fundraising campaign to save their homes as sea defences struggle to keep the tides at bay within hundreds of meters of the latest fall.

Dr Barlow added: “Other factors that influence the timing of failures is the water content of the chalk and the growth of salt crystals, both of which influence the strength of the rock.”

However Dr Barlow said this did not mean the beauty spots would be disappearing any time soon.

He said: “Erosion will continue as long as wave energy is being delivered – this means that the cliffs will continue to erode back into the South Downs.

“However we’re talking about geological time scales. Seven Sisters and Beachy Head will still be there a hundred years from now.”

Last year the National Trust, The National highlighted Cuckmere, Birling Gap, Quay Meadow in Bosham and East Head in West Wittering as areas of concern.

The charity has rejected building sea walls and is instead encouraging moving buildings, roads and car parks further inland.

It said storms which had battered the coast in the winter of 2013/14 demonstrated that many parts of the coast were simply impossible to defend.

EXPERT PREDICTS MORE INCIDENTS IN COMING MONTHS AND YEARS

A UNIVERSITY expert warned there are expected to be more cliff falls following the major drop near Cuckmere Haven. 

John Barlow, University of Sussex senior lecturer in applied geomorphology, said he believed the fall was the biggest incident in at least 10 years.

He said there were likely to be other smaller falls to come in the coming months and years.

Dr Barlow said: “The nature of cliff retreat is quite episodic such that you get these very large events infrequently and a lot of smaller events in between. 

“The system is primarily controlled through the delivery of wave energy to the base of the cliff which damages the rock and leads to eventual failure.”

Residents at Cuckmere Haven have started their own fundraising campaign to save their homes as sea defences struggle to keep the tides at bay within hundreds of meters of the latest fall.

Dr Barlow added: “Other factors that influence the timing of failures are the water content of the chalk and the growth of salt crystals, both of which influence the strength of the rock.”

However, Dr Barlow said this did not mean the beauty spots would be disappearing any time soon.

He said: “Erosion will continue as long as wave energy is being delivered – this means that the cliffs will continue to erode back into the South Downs. 

“However, we’re talking about geological time scales. Seven Sisters and Beachy Head will still be there 100 years from now.”