People photographed peering over edge of Birling Gap cliffs

Images from Birling Gap this morning show one of the group on their hands and knees seemingly crawling towards the precipice with a phone in-hand, just feet from the sheer 200ft drop.

This comes just weeks after a huge cliff fall at nearby Seaford Head which saw a huge volume of the white rock face plummet on to the beach below.

People were pictured peering over the cliff edge at Birling Gap Credit: Eddie Mitchell

There have been almost 50 cliff falls in East Sussex in the last 12 months.

Following the latest landslide, coastguard deputy controller Dai Jones issued a stern warning to those looking to visit the coast.

He said: "Please do be careful near cliffs. Some of them are really unstable at the moment and could easily collapse.

• READ MORE: Drone pictures show the scale of large cliff fall at Seaford Head

"Stay well back, wear appropriate sturdy footwear and ensure that you check tide times and weather before setting out.

"If you or someone else is in difficulty call 999 and ask for the coastguard."

The pictures were taken this morning, the day after lockdown measures were eased further and the government retracted its well-worn "Stay at Home" message.

People are now, instead, encouraged to stay local.

People were pictured peering over the cliff edge at Birling Gap Credit: Eddie Mitchell

East Sussex County Council recognised this shift in restrictions was likely to mean many more people would be visiting the area over the coming weeks, and so the authority issued a statement ahead of the rule change.

Karl Taylor, head of operations at East Sussex County Council, said: “We want people to come to East Sussex and enjoy its beautiful coastline, but to do so safely and be aware of the dangers that the chalk cliffs and the sea can present.

“Visitors should not underestimate the risks they are taking when they stand on top of the cliffs or at the cliff base, and should remember that it is very easy to be caught out by the incoming tide when walking on the beach.

People were pictured peering over the cliff edge at Birling Gap Credit: Eddie Mitchell

“Our message to anyone visiting the area is enjoy the amazing views safely by keeping well away from the edge and base of the cliffs, and to be aware of the tide.”

In June 2017, a Korean student plunged 200ft to her death as she was having her picture taken at the top of the cliffs just east of Cuckmere Haven, not far from Birling Gap.

The 23-year-old had asked fellow visitors to the site to take her picture near the precipice and jumped upwards as she posed, hoping the camera would catch her in mid-air.

• READ MORE: Pictures show years of risk-taking at Birling Gap cliffs

But, when she came back down to earth, only one of her feet landed on solid ground with the other going beyond the cliff’s edge.

She lost her balance and stumbled backwards, falling over the edge.

At her inquest, held four months later, coroner Alan Craze recorded her cause of death as misadventure.

People were pictured peering over the cliff edge at Birling Gap Credit: Eddie Mitchell

“If people do things which put them in extreme and obvious danger, there is a limit to which they can be stopped,” he said.

“From a language point of view, there is a difference between accident and misadventure.

“In this particular case, the right conclusion is misadventure.”